UFC Announces Sponsorship with Reebok

[bushido_man96]

The UFC has announced a sponsorship with Reebok, which includes laying out an outfitting policy for its athletes: http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/448913/UFC-announces-sponsorship-with-Reebook-outfitting-policy-for-athletes

It appears, as part of this deal, that athletes will no longer be able to represent their own sponsors in fights.

Any thoughts on this? I can see some pros and cons, but I think it really short-changes the sponsors the fighters have at this point, and I also think it might affect the individual marketability of some of the fighters, as well.

[kensei]

Big business helping out other big business. the small guys are getting the shaft and I already read a lot of fighters are NOT happy with this new rule and some plan to walk out in official uniforms and strip to a different uniform or wear a bland outfit with NO sponsors on it. UFC has no employee fighters they are all independent contractors so I don't see how they can stop them from wearing what they want really.

[bushido_man96]

Big business helping out other big business. the small guys are getting the shaft and I already read a lot of fighters are NOT happy with this new rule and some plan to walk out in official uniforms and strip to a different uniform or wear a bland outfit with NO sponsors on it. UFC has no employee fighters they are all independent contractors so I don't see how they can stop them from wearing what they want really.

That's interesting. I think Reebok will probably be paying some of the purse, so if the fighters do choose to do that, they might get docked some of the purse. But that's just me speculating. I'm not sure if their contracts have something in there on this kind of situation or not. I'm sure some attorneys are really busy about it right now, though.

It sounded to me like Reebok will be providing what they wear in the ring, as well. If that's the case, they'd have to wear another pair under the tights they have on, or just change out there. But I doubt that happens.

At any rate, I'm sure this stirs things up between Dana White and the fighters.