UFC exec on Sam Alvey’s spray-tan sponsor logo: ‘Fighters definitely can’t do that’

Sam Alvey’s creative logo placement didn’t please the UFC.

The quirky middleweight fighter had his sponsor, Perfect Tan, adorned on his chest in what seemed like spray tan. Alvey did it during weigh-ins Friday and there it was again Saturday during his bout with Daniel Kelly at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic in Adelaide, Australia.

Alvey gave a shoutout to UFC uniform partner Reebok after knocking Kelly out in the first round. But that didn’t seem to ease the annoyance from his employer. Tom Wright, a UFC international executive, said in the post-fight press conference that what Alvey did violated UFC rules.

“Fighters definitely can’t do that,” Wright said. “It’s against our policy. You can put your sponsors on your shorts. You can put your sponsors on your shorts, you can put your sponsors on your banner, but you can’t put your sponsors on your body.”

The UFC didn’t seem to be alerted to Alvey’s spray tan during weigh-ins. Wright said officials didn’t know what was happening until it was too late.

“We didn’t see it until before the fight,” Wright said. “We tried to do something to remove it. It was unremovable. But we’ve spoken to Sam and he understands the situation. I guarantee it won’t happen again.”

Alvey (26-6, 1 NC), who trains out of Dan Henderson’s gym in Temecula, Calif., has developed quite the following due to his zany personality — and ability to knock opponents into next week. “Smilen Sam” has won three straight fights by first-round KO. Alvey, 29, beat Cezar Ferreira in February and Dylan Andrews last November, also in Australia.

After starching Kelly, Alvey said he wants to fight all his friends, so he can make them — and himself — money. Then he called out UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou, challenging him to an old-school, pro wrestling hair vs. hair match. Theodorou accepted on Twitter.

@EliasTheodorou haven’t you seen any of my fights? Every Time I fight is kick a ginger day

— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) May 10, 2015

If the fight does happen, though, Alvey won’t be wearing “Perfect Tan” across his chest, at least if the UFC has anything to say about it. Maybe “Reebok” will have to suffice.

Sam Alvey’s creative logo placement didn’t please the UFC.

The quirky middleweight fighter had his sponsor, Perfect Tan, adorned on his chest in what seemed like spray tan. Alvey did it during weigh-ins Friday and there it was again Saturday during his bout with Daniel Kelly at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic in Adelaide, Australia.

Alvey gave a shoutout to UFC uniform partner Reebok after knocking Kelly out in the first round. But that didn’t seem to ease the annoyance from his employer. Tom Wright, a UFC international executive, said in the post-fight press conference that what Alvey did violated UFC rules.

“Fighters definitely can’t do that,” Wright said. “It’s against our policy. You can put your sponsors on your shorts. You can put your sponsors on your shorts, you can put your sponsors on your banner, but you can’t put your sponsors on your body.”

The UFC didn’t seem to be alerted to Alvey’s spray tan during weigh-ins. Wright said officials didn’t know what was happening until it was too late.

“We didn’t see it until before the fight,” Wright said. “We tried to do something to remove it. It was unremovable. But we’ve spoken to Sam and he understands the situation. I guarantee it won’t happen again.”

Alvey (26-6, 1 NC), who trains out of Dan Henderson’s gym in Temecula, Calif., has developed quite the following due to his zany personality — and ability to knock opponents into next week. “Smilen Sam” has won three straight fights by first-round KO. Alvey, 29, beat Cezar Ferreira in February and Dylan Andrews last November, also in Australia.

After starching Kelly, Alvey said he wants to fight all his friends, so he can make them — and himself — money. Then he called out UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou, challenging him to an old-school, pro wrestling hair vs. hair match. Theodorou accepted on Twitter.

If the fight does happen, though, Alvey won’t be wearing “Perfect Tan” across his chest, at least if the UFC has anything to say about it. Maybe “Reebok” will have to suffice.