THE UFC ARE starting to get tough when it comes to implementing their Athlete Outfitting Policy, which stipulates that fighters must wear Reebok-branded gear only when competing.
For the first time since the policy was introduced last July, fighters have been deducted money for “non-compliance”, MMAjunkie reports. The fines relate to the UFC’s 19 December event in Orlando, which was headlined by a successful lightweight title defence for Rafael dos Anjos against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
Three fighters who competed at UFC on FOX 17 were penalised, while a further 12 will receive letters of warning for issues which arose during the policy’s first six months in operation.
“We have had over 99% compliance with the Athlete Outfitting Policy. This week will be the first time that we will be issuing reduction in payments for non-compliance with the policy,” said Tracey Bleczinski, the UFC’s Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products.
Bleczinski added: “A warning is issued when an athlete is non-compliant but agrees and takes steps to correct the infraction. There is ample opportunity for an athlete to correct an infraction.
“The equipment department, as well as our athlete relations teams, are onsite at the event throughout event week, helping the athletes to be compliant. We know that there’s very much an educational process around this, and so that’s why they’re just receiving a warning letter.
“A payment reduction is enacted when an athlete knowingly and seriously violates the policy after receiving an opportunity to correct it.”
Details of the fighters in question and the amount they were fined weren’t disclosed. However, responding to a query via Twitter, Cerrone confirmed that he was one of them.
Cerrone was seemingly punished for stitching a patch, which had been made by his grandmother, on to his shorts.
According to MMAjunkie’s report, infractions of the policy can include failure to properly utilise the Reebok Fight Kit during fight week, the usage of unapproved flags or banners in the octagon [only national flags are allowed], usage of unapproved headphones [Monster products are required] or to bring any other brand or competing sponsor to the octagon, weigh-in, press conference or open workouts.
