Paige VanZant is a Reebok-sponsored athlete and she is receiving some flack for a controversial post on social media.
VanZant took down a video post on her twitter feed where she was promoting Reebok’s newest collection of clothing. It appears from the video (which has been since taken down) lifting up her shirt to reveal her abs and what we assume is a new Reebok sports bra. While that might not be controversial, it’s her writing on a white carpet which drew the ire are eye rolls of MMA fighters and fans.
PVZ has since left a photo of a part of the video on her twitter account.
Reebok Black and White collection. pic.twitter.com/7SSCN0TkhE
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) April 30, 2017
Payout Perspective:
Maybe more controversial than PVZ’s video is the fact that Nike also has a Black and White Collection. This might lead to some mean letter-writing by lawyers. But as for PVZ, one must wonder if this was something she thought of herself or something Reebok influenced her to do. Certainly, Reebok wants her to use her social media platform to promote Reebok to her thousands of followers but the video seems to lack a sense of what her brand should be. Obviously, if she wants to be thought of as a sex symbol, it would seem there are other ways to do it.
Wil says
Ok what did the words say….I dont have twitter and I dont have much interest in this hype job.
d says
“TRIGGERED”
Haha. Dork.
Diego says
It’s not for nothing that the two most popular female MMA fighters are both blonde and good looking (PVZ and Rousey). Neither is a currently a champion. Both lost their last fight. I can see how other fighters would get annoyed that in-cage accomplishments are secondary to looks when it comes to fame and sponsorships.
d says
Diego, with PVZ, you are correct, but there’s no way you can make the argument that Rousey doesn’t have the in-cage accomplishments. No female fighter has come even close to accomplishing what she has. Rousey had 7 title defenses.
Diego says
Even at her peak Rousey was overhyped. “Most dominant athlete in the world” was a ridiculous title. She got it on the back of her popularity, not on her accomplishments in a weak division. And she’s still the most popular female fighter in the world. Despite the fact that she’s been embarrassed in her last two outings. To me that says that her looks are more important than her performances.
d says
I really don’t understand why you jump all over this. How many female fighters have 7 title defenses like her? How many female fighters demolished their opponents like her in the first round, routinely. If the division was so weak, how come Holm, after winning the title could not defend it? How come Nunes was put away by two opponents that Rousey destroyed? Also, please don’t say Cyborg has better credentials. Cyborg should be banned for cheating, she cheats every fight.
What happened to Rousey is what happens to a lot of fighters in mma after being on top for a while, they just lose it. It’s hard to stay on top for that long. The Rousey we saw against Holm/Nunes is not the same as the Rousey we saw during her crazy title run.
Regardless, though, Rousey clearly has the most impressive resume by far of any female fighter in the history of mma. She put the sport on the map for females with her domination. Her in cage performances combined with her looks(although there are a lot of better looking girls in mma like Tate that don’t get the press Rousey does, because they aren’t as good of a fighter) is what made her a mega star. So my point was, her in cage accomplishment were not second to her looks. With PVZ it is though.