UFC Removes Fabricio Werdum from Broadcasts After Anti-Reebok Post
The UFC has removed Fabricio Werdum from their Spanish broadcasts after he expressed anti-Reebok sentiments on Instagram.
Fabricio Werdum revealed his removal on Instagram. However, a translation error caused outlets to believe he was only suspended from his UFC broadcast duties for three years. Reports were later corrected to express that Werdum was outright removed from his position.
Fabricio Werdum posted a promotional picture for his upcoming fight with Cain Velasquez three days ago, but removed the Reebok logo from his fight kit and replaced it with a Nike logo.
The caption read: “I’m not generic, I’m Nike since childhood! #suck #myballs #reebok.” The photo can be seen below.
Werdum stood by his statement, saying he was protesting the pay of Reebok sponsorship. Werdum currently receives $5,000 in sponsorship pay from Reebok per fight, and stated that he made much more before the deal was in place.
Fortunately, Werdum is still scheduled to fight Velasquez on December 30 and that will not be a part of the punishment.
Many fans are upset by the punishment, but it is understandable from the promotion’s perspective to remove the risk of Werdum saying anything against a main sponsor on-air.
The UFC and Reebok signed a six-year $70 million deal last year that made Reebok the only in-Octagon sponsor of the athletes. Fighters with up to five Octagon appearances receive $2,500 per fight, $5,000 for appearances six to 10, $10,000 for 11 to 15, $15,000, for 16 to 20, and $20,000 for at least 21 bouts. Challengers receive $30,000 in sponsor pay, while champions receive $40,000.
UFC 207 will feature Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez’s rematch on the main card. The co-main event features Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt for the bantamweight title. Ronda Rousey returns to take on current champion Amanda Nunes in the main event on December 30 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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