The UFC and Reebok have signed a reported six-year, $71 million dollar deal that kicks off in July of this year and runs through 2021. The deal has been lauded by some as a deal that takes the sport of MMA to the next level, while others have accused the UFC of limiting the ability of their fighters to make money through sponsorships.
Several athletes and management groups from the MMA world were approached to be guests for this podcast, but all declined, preferring to stay quiet in fear of any potential back-lash. The long and short of it is that starting next month, the UFC athletes will only be allowed to wear Reebok in the octagon or at a UFC sponsored event, so as a fan we will see the effects of the deal very soon.
It is unclear how the UFC will respond to several fighters that have expressed legitimate concerns about the deal. Also unclear are what will be the long-term effects of the deal on the business of MMA as a whole, as once again the UFC appears to be taking a swipe at the grassroots of MMA by signing a corporate deal that changes the playing field in terms of fighter access to sponsorships.
For this podcast, we are joined by Talk ‘n’ Shoot co-host Mike Davis, who also works as an MMA promoter in the midwest with the United Combat League.
Check out the latest Talk ‘n’ Shoot Podcast where we get into the details of the deal and several other facets of the UFC’s business strategy.
