Late fight cancellations won’t be credited as fights under Reebok deal

MMA Junkie sheds some light on the upcoming new UFC athlete outfitting policy with respect to late fight scratches.  The information may add on to the growing discontent about the ills of the new program.

UFC officials indicated that neither fighter officially will be credited with a bout.  Payouts for a cancelled fight will be handled on a case-by-case basis as one fighter or both could still be paid.

The recent example of Rose Namajunas and Nina Ansaroff was highlighted in the Junkie article.  Ansaroff not only missed weight but was a late scratch from UFC 187.  Namajunas was left without an opponent.  Her sponsors had varying contractual responsibilities to Namajunas in light of a cancellation.  Although the article did not state it, it was inferred that some fight-week and in-case sponsors had different financial obligations than lifestyle sponsors. While lifestyle sponsors pay regardless of whether there is a fight, others may not have to pay if no fight occurred.

Payout Perspective:

The article outlines the new challenges facing managers and fighters in light of the Reebok deal.  Perhaps the fact that may have been glossed over but is important is the fact that a fight that is cancelled by either fighter will not be logged as a fight toward one’s total number in the UFC.  Thus, a fighter that could be moving on to the next sponsor pay tier would have to wait until they are called again to fight if their opponent cancels.  It really seems unfair from this viewpoint and stagnates a fighter’s earning potential without even it being their fault.