Zuffa starts sponsor fee for Strikeforce
Historically, fight camps in MMA have supplemented the fighter purse by seeking sponsors for individual contests. This became a new…
Historically, fight camps in MMA have supplemented the fighter purse by seeking sponsors for individual contests. This became a new phenomenon in fight sports, and sponsorships grew to the point that they roughly equalled the purse itself. This is still the case with regional promotions, but sponsors were most interested in getting into the UFC, so in 2009, Zuffa, parent company to the UFC, enacted a new policy wherein companies had to first pay a fee to the UFC covering a period of time, and then are allowed to negotiate with a fighter or fighters.
This policy has apparently come to Strikeforce, starttng with this Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum” show in Dallas. Unconfirmed reports are that the fee is $35,000.
Top manager Alex Davis confirms the new policy on the UG:
From: AJDavis
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 472
The same policy that is used in the UFC is now in place at Strike Force. Sponsors must pay a fee in order to endorse athletes fighting in Strikeforce.
