Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone was among the first fighters fined for violating the UFC & Reebok’s uniform policy for fighters. Cerrone says he was fined a “ludicrous” amount of money for sewing an American flag patch on to his shorts, which he does as a tribute to his late grandmother.
Here’s what Cerrone said on The MMA Hour this week about the situation:
“Absolutely I was fined for it, for wearing an old flag. Patriotically, that is not very cool, is it? Especially when they make a pair of green shorts for McGregor and I get fined for putting a small piece of an American flag on my shorts. It represents my grandma. That’s all besides the point. Just the fact that it was an American flag, just look at that fact. That alone is, you know, whether it’s superstitious or a gift from my grandma, it’s because I love the United States, it doesn’t matter. I understand the fine, sure, I’ll take a fine, but what they did to me was a lot more than a fine brother. I am not going to tell you the amount, because I don’t think that’s right. Let’s just say it was a lot, like a lot, a lot. I want to talk to Reebok and tell them that they can have the money, I am okay with that. But, let’s at least take that money and give it to a charity of your discretion. I don’t care who. Let’s make it a Wounded Warrior, or any military charity you want. Since it was a flag and I feel like it was patriotic, lets give it back to people that’s the reason I get to fight and walk around to be free every single day that they fight their lives for us. Let’s donate that to them, I’ll even double it. I’ll match the amount and give it. It’s not the fact that they took, it’s that it’s over the flag. The amount to me was crazy. A few grand? Sure, I would’ve taken that, but the amount they took was ludicrous, so. My thing to whoever took it, don’t give it back to me, let’s donate it to Wounded Warrior, or to a charity to women whose children were orphaned because their fathers were defending our country.”
Related: Brendan Schaub Speaks On Poor Sales Of “Terrible” UFC-Reebok Merchandise
As part of the UFC’s Reebok outfitting policy, fighters must only wear Reebok gear during the week of the fight. The deal between the UFC and Reebok has been heavily criticized for making it harder for fighters to earn income.
Nick Diaz was also fined for wearing jeans at the recent UFC on FOX weigh-ins.
Related: Video: Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s Huge ‘Fight Ranch’ In New Mexico