Despite the notable opposition to the UFC’s apparel deal, the “Reebok-era” has begun and according to the UFC, third-party sponsors are sticking with their fighters per a report by MMA Junkie.
While the UFC says it is working with its fighters about the Athlete Outfitting Policy (or AOP for short), the compensation to its fighters will remain throughout the term of the deal.
In an interview with Junkie, UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Tracey Bleczinski stated that third-party sponsors are sticking with its contracted fighters. Bleczinski went on to state that the UFC would continue an on-going review of “all aspects of the program” although it would not review the compensation of the sponsorship deal. As most know, one of the biggest issues with the Reebok deal is that many of the UFC contracted fighters would be losing out on money from their fight week and fight night sponsors.
Payout Perspective:
Overarching question is why the UFC did not seek input from its contracted fighters prior to entering into the deal with Reebok. Moreover, did UFC contracted fighters know about the pay structure prior to its public release? We don’t know the specific answers to those questions but the fact that the UFC says its having “open communication” with its contracted fighters now seems to be an “after the fact” PR strategy. While maintaining a dialogue is good and perhaps the UFC can make good on some of the criticism from this deal, the execution of its strategy appears flawed.
On another note, it would be interesting to know which third-party sponsors are sticking with its fighters. We have heard of many fighters losing out on sponsors, but not many sponsors sticking with their fighters. Notably, Dana White revealed that Venum is sticking with Jose Aldo. Also, Gegard Mousasi signed a deal with Bridgestone. But, not many other big name brands sticking with its fighters. If there are more, please let us know. Certainly, the third-party sponsor market will be a much tougher sell and managers/fighters will need to get creative to get around the Reebok deal.
BrainSmasher says
Go to any fighters facebook page. There is clearly a ton of sponsors still with the fighters. Anyone who thinks the fights are not mainf money are ignorant. I personally could give a rats ass about anyone who already makes more than me. That’s their fight not mine!
tops E says
Mayweather in sept….cotto canelo november good for boxing hahahahaba…meanwhile connor mentions fighting mayweather in boxing..cheap….20 years and ufc still mentions boxing for theyre promo hahahaha
saldathief says
OH boy! UFC fighters have sponsors on Facebook! wow that’s amazing! Who needs a reebok deal anyhow bahahahahha bahahahhahah
d says
Sal never ceases being a retard.
d says
Mayweather retiring in September….boxing ppv doomed.
saldathief says
Yup just like when Oscar retired ass clown!
Fight Fan says
lol Boxing has always had big PPV stars, when one leaves the other comes. Tyson, Trinidad, De la hoya, Mayweather. Don’t be mad that the UFC hasn’t had a huge event since Lesnar left and Dana was begging him to come back and save them and he chose WWE instead lol.
Pink Pig says
Ahahahahaha! She really thinks Floyd is gonna retire!
Ahahahahaha!
Neither Pac or Floyd are gonna retire. Canelo-Cotto PPV 1 million buys…
Boxing reigns supreme
Saldathief says
The ufc butt monkeys said boxing was dead 10 years ago lmao. Double bitches!!
Fight Fan says
Pig no doubt on that Canelo and cotto doing 1m, I’m predicting 1.5-2m
BrainSmasher says
Oscar passed the torch you dumbass. Him losing to Floyd created Floyd! If Floyd retires without losing boxing will take a hit it may never recover from. The NBA lost a ton of ratings when Jordan retired. It took years for the league to recover from him going out on top. He never passed on the casual fans. Boxing doesn’t have the fans the NBA does. Losing people for 5 years while you build a star to get their attention may be boxing death nail!
d says
RIght because boxing has someone like De La Hoya and Mayweather lined up next. HAHAHA!! Fucking idiots. There’s no one there and no there is a different sport destroying them in ppv buys/revenue. Boxing ppv is doomed.
d says
“lol Boxing has always had big PPV stars, when one leaves the other comes. Tyson, Trinidad, De la hoya, Mayweather. Don’t be mad that the UFC hasn’t had a huge event since Lesnar left and Dana was begging him to come back and save them and he chose WWE instead lol.”
Right, because Weidman-Silva didn’t do a million buys…..idiot.
They never had a competitor like the UFC until now though. When De La Hoya left the UFC was just starting to bring in big ppv numbers. Now when Mayweather leaves(who was one of if not the biggest draws boxing’s ever had because of his ability to sell a fight and the fact that he never lost), not only is there no replacement, but there is this other sport that is kicking their ass and drawing the 18-49 demo away from them.
By the way, you talk about a promotion desperate to be saved, how about De La Hoya attempting to make a comeback just to save his promotion. HAHAHAHA!!
d says
Ahahahahaha! She really thinks Floyd is gonna retire!
Ahahahahaha!
Neither Pac or Floyd are gonna retire. Canelo-Cotto PPV 1 million buys…
Boxing reigns supreme
HAHAHAHAHA!!! She really thinks Mayweather is going to keep on fighting. HAHAHAHA!!! 38 year old ego maniac who wants to keep his record flawless and taking a joke soft fight for his last contracted fight! He’s gone in the Fall, then Sampson self destructs!!!!!
Boxing….old fighters…..old fans…..reigns INFERIOR!!
d says
“Pig no doubt on that Canelo and cotto doing 1m, I’m predicting 1.5-2m”
Delusions of grandeur.
saldathief says
D and BS sound like 2 fags in a backseat of a car! Both of you know less then nothing and continue to use lame, tired excuses that have been proven invalid and wrong for years. Keep trying girls, maybe you can get each others pants off. While you 2 try to jerk one another off boxing is moving right along and the ufc is digging its ditch deeper and deeper. Big news coming soon stay tuned to really have to spin some bullshit!!!
d says
2 fags in the backseat of a car describes the relationship between Saldafag and his boyfriend, dirty Bob Arum.
The rest of your rant as usual is incoherent and mentally ill in nature.
saldathief says
Yes the truth doesn’t make sense to a delusional retard. Reality is beyond their mental capacity.
d says
Yes, I know, which is why you continue to prove how delusional you are.