With UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones signing a deal with Nike, welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre had to respond quickly.

Enter Coca Cola.

"GSP" has signed an exclusive deal with NOS Energy Drink, a subsidiary of Coca Cola. With the deal, he is the first mixed martial artist to be sponsored by the brand.

NOS has tested the waters with NASCAR but with St. Piere, they're apparently taking it to the next level as he was viewed as a ripe opportunity for the product's expansion.

News of the endorsement came via MMA Weekly. St. Pierre commented on the deal stating:

"I feel very privileged. It's great we can work together to create a product to best fit the athlete, and with NOS that's what it's all about. I'm very happy to be in the family of Coca-Cola right now and to be associated with the product."

St. Pierre's deal with NOS further extends MMA's expansion into mainstream sponsors. He's set to be a walking billboard for his upcoming return bout, a title defense against interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 154 in November.

"Rush" has already represented elite athletic sponsors like Gatorade and Under Armor in the past and this deal potentially sets him up for even more juicy options down the line.

St. Pierre commented on the effect of the endorsement as well:

"It gives me more support for training and gets me to perform better."

The UFC Welterweight Champion hasn't fought since an April 2011 victory over Jake Shields at UFC 129 via unanimous decision in the UFC's Toronto debut at the Rogers Centre in front of 55,000 fans.

Do you think these big endorsements could impact St. Pierre negatively due to added pressure? Or is he too experienced and business savvy to let something like that affect him?

Sound off!