June - 2015
SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
40
Why The UFC’s Reebok Deal
Is A Win For Bellator
Article By: Jay Anderson
From day one, the UFC’s spon-
sorship deal with Reebok, un-
der which the footwear and
apparel company will provide
uniforms to UFC fighters and
essentially be the primary, if
not sole (there is the possibility
of one other) sponsor of ath-
letes in the company has been
controversial. Many fighters
have complained over the years
about securing sponsorships,
it’s true — but questions arose
about the Rebook deal almost
instantly. Would fighters be
short changed? Howmuch was
the UFC going to pocket? How
would the money be distribut-
ed? Did this eliminate some of
the fighter’s ability to be them-
selves, to promote themselves
in the light they wanted to be
seen in? Is this really a good
deal for fighters?
They’re valid questions. With
disturbing answers.
Make no mistake, the UFC is
trying here. Yet thus far, the
deal has been a lesson in how
not to conduct business. First,
keep in mind that fighters have
no union. There is no collective
bargaining, at least not thus
far. This isn’t the NHL or the
NBA, where there is strength in
UFC.com
