Yahoo! Sports reports that Donald Cerrone is set to lose $60,000 in sponsorship money due to the new Reebok sponsorship deal. However, Cerrone appears ok with it.
Almost 2 years ago, Cerrone signed on with Kevin Harvick’s sports agency and picked up some key non-endemic MMA sponsors which include Budweiser and Fram. Notably, both are UFC sponsors (Bud Light is the actual UFC sponsor although I am not sure if there is a true difference in sponsorship between Bud and Bud Light). He also has had golf-cart operator EZ-Go and others on his shorts in the past too.
Despite losing the sponsor money, Cerrone remained upbeat about the change in policy in the UFC. He acknowledged he will not make the “big money” but thinks it will work out. He stated that his sponsors will stick with him despite the shift. Of course, Budweiser and Fram are official sponsors so this helps. He noted that the deal with Budweiser is for a year and appears to be guaranteed regardless of whether or not he will wear it to the ring.
Payout Perspective:
Interesting to note that the article mentions that one other UFC official sponsor will be on the Reebok uniform along with Reebok. One might suspect Bud Light or Fram would get rotating spots on the uniform at some point. Cerrone is in a unique position as he has secured individual sponsor deals with official UFC sponsors so those relationships are more likely to remain intact. But, does anyone find it odd that Cerrone remains upbeat about the sponsor deal despite losing money? He is one that has admitted to spending money once he receives it which is one reason that he is willing to fight anytime, anywhere. So, if he’s losing money on this deal, wouldn’t you be a little upset?
Fortunately for Cerrone, he is a crowd favorite and one could see a crossover with NASCAR and perhaps making appearances at NASCAR events for a sponsor like Fram or Budweiser or another non-UFC official sponsor. Thus, he can still make money outside of the Octagon without having to wear a patch on his shorts.
A lot of guys losing a lot of money over this deal.
Some handling it more professionally than others.
Fighters losing money and the ufc making more money. What a great organization!
“But, does anyone find it odd that Cerrone remains upbeat about the sponsor deal despite losing money?”
Yes, it’s very odd. He is probably trying to handle it in a different way–making it public that he is losing money but at the same time not saying anything that can anger the UFC. Probably just hoping that they make up for it, I mean, who the hell would not be upset about losing 60k per fight, it’s insane.
“But, does anyone find it odd that Cerrone remains upbeat about the sponsor deal despite losing money? ”
Not at all.
1- He has no choice, UFC will always pay more than Bellator for a guy like Cerrone.
2- He is on the verge of a title shot. The last thing he wants to do is piss off the tyrannical mogul who has the power to give him that shot.
Saldaqueef.
I think a lot of these people complaining are also lying. I doubt all Cerrones sponsors dropped him. If they did then they were not his sponsors they were using him to worm into the UFC. More than likely they reduced the amount he was paid to reflect not getting on TV during fights. If that’s the case I have a hard time believing he lost 60k because that would put the original anount well into 6 figures and I doubt he is making that. In other words Cerrone is exaggerating.
The truth is the fighters can’t have any clue what they are losing because they don’t know how many times a year they are going to fight. They also are ignoring the other part of the reebok deal which is merchandise!
I think what the UFC should have tried to negotiate is the current reebok amount for exclusive deal to main card fights on each event. Then that money would be split among less than half as many fighters and more than doubling the amount each fighter currently gets. Then allow the prelim fighters and under card guys to either keep their small sponsors they have or the UFC could sign a secondary deal for access to the undercard fights.
Maybe even give fighters the option to buy out of the reebok deal at maybe 50% or 100% of their would be tier amount.
But the fighters are going to complain either way so it really doesn’t matter there is never enough and we have seen this the entire sports history. There is always fighters mooching every last cent even if it killed the sport. They don’t care about a real future or the sport or the fans.