Dana defends deal with Reebok

Fighter and management feedback on the Reebok Deal has been mixed, with some prominent fighters and managers defending, but a majority feeling it has to be tweaked further. Among the most vocal critics was UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub.

“I’ve made six figures in sponsorship in each of my last 6 fights,” he tweeted.

Schaub has 11 fights in the UFC, which puts him at the $10,000 level of sponsorship. A decline of 90% in sponsorship is disastrous, but White pointed out that fighters are allowed out of competition sponsors (Reebok gear is required in cage, during fight week, and at official UFC functions), and he questioned whether Schaub was actually taking in 100k in sponsorships per fight.

“I’m sure this guy is making over $100,000 a fight,” said White sarcastically. White then listed Schaub’s sponsors, and was dubious that they cumulatively paid him 300k over three fights – Big Rentals Construction Company, KeepItPlayful.com, the Reign Training Center, Box N Burn Gym, Alchemist Management, and NOHO Hangover.

“All the other sports, whether it’s hockey or football, baseball, whatever … everybody is allowed to have sponsors outside of the league and not inside,” said White as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMAFighting.com. “And these guys are getting all the money from the Reebok deal. All the money goes to them. What better of a deal could you cut for the guys? It’s an investment in the future of the sport.”

“I just don’t know how the deal could be any better. Could there be a lot more money? Of course there could. Every body wants more money. That’s never gonna change no matter what. If this deal with Reebok was $200 million it wouldn’t enough money.”

“I don’t think we’re screwing our athletes on the Reebok deal,” he said. “Any time we make any type of change here, people go crazy in this sport.

“These guys get a little crazy every time something changes. The same thing happened when we did the video game.”