On Wednesday, news broke revealing what the per-fight scale would be for UFC fighters when it came to guaranteed Reebok sponsorship money. While rumors had been circulating for weeks, if not months, about what fighters in what tier could expect from the system, the fact is no one except the brass in the UFC truly knew. That all changed on Wednesday with published scale.
Fighters, managers and other members of the mixed martial arts community are still processing what it all means, but to put it mildly, reaction to the news has been mixed. Here are there initial thoughts.
Good to see the ufc fighters are going to start making the big bucks off of this reebok deal :/
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 6, 2015
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) May 6, 2015
I’ve made six figures in sponsorship in each of my last 6 fights https://t.co/gotToaSDJh
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) May 6, 2015
Wow 2500$ for my next fight for reebok sponsorship. ….i mad twice that off 1 sponsor my last fight!!!! Sucks!
— Roger Narvaez (@Silverback316) May 6, 2015
@Mayhem2_3 @marc_raimondi just hurts because I have great sponsors that have always financially helped….it’s going to be hard on fighters
— Roger Narvaez (@Silverback316) May 6, 2015
@Silverback316 understand what theUFC trying to do…those numbers just hurt fighters like me who spend 2-3k on fight camp just getting prep
— Roger Narvaez (@Silverback316) May 6, 2015
$70 million looking kinda weak http://t.co/y8Y8ZP1svk?
— Chris Kelades (@keladesmma) May 6, 2015
I understand the reasoning given for the Reebok deal, but the deal has to make sense for at least 80% of the fighters in regards to tiers
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) May 6, 2015
For me, I barely got any sponsorship money, but Im ok w/not whoring myself out to 6-7 companies to look NASCAR. New system= half my earnings
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) May 6, 2015
Checked my email to good news! 21 in the books with zuffa. Thank you @lorenzofertitta @danawhite @Reebok @ufc
— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) May 6, 2015
Definitely need to get more fights booked…according to what counts, I’m only at 6 since 2011…definitely not enough!!
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) May 6, 2015
Reebok sponsorship deal is more money than I got paid fighting on European shows,would I like more hell yea but who wouldn’t #stayhumble
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) May 6, 2015
Congrats @Reebok, you got the deal of the century. Unfortunately, it was at the cost of the fighters. Hope the bad press is worth it. @ufc
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) May 6, 2015