The UFC has signed a multi-year licensing deal with CSG Taiwan for a bluetooth enabled device that records an individual’s speed, power, and endurance while training with a punching bag.
The UFC Force Tracker will be manufactured and distributed globally by CSG Taiwan. As part of the deal, CSG also acquired licensing to the Xforce Tracker mobile application, which connects to the UFC Force Tracker device to record and store the user’s training progress. The app works on both iOS and Android devices and also features a global leaderboard where users can compare training stats.
“We are excited to partner with UFC to bring the Force Tracker product and Xforce Tracker App to UFC fans globally,” said Eric Liu, Managing Director of CSG Taiwan Ltd, in an official UFC press release. “This motivational product will encourage both fitness fans and MMA athletes to train more efficiently as users can see the impact recording for each punch and kick.”
The UFC’s Force Tracker works is placed at the bottom of a heavy bag or the top of a free-standing punching bag. The device is available on Walmart.com in the United States as well as various online and retail distributors in Europe and Asia.
SportTechie Takeaway
The UFC Force Tracker and corresponding app are marketed towards consumers who take part in boxing/kickboxing workouts and want feedback on their performance. Professional fighters already have access to data performance metrics are at the UFC Training Institute. But perhaps the UFC’s decision to sell a personal stat-tracking device on a global scale, and the increasing familiarity with data that might breed among fans, could one day lead to demands for real-time fight performance data on live broadcasts.