The UFC recently partnered with both the USADA and Reebok and the repercussions for fighters not adhering to guidelines are harsh – and monetary.
Donald Cerrone was fined for wearing an unauthorized patch on his fight shorts. It was apparently an old piece of his Muay Thai trunks. To make it even more special, it honored his grandmother.
Cerrone doesn’t care about any fines and says Reebok has been leeching off him since day one.
The fine came out of UFC on FOX 17. Cerrone tweeted:
I sure did https://t.co/X3XkUJtMVX
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) January 7, 2016
Cowboy was responding to this Tweet from a fan:
If @Cowboycerrone got one for his patch it's 100% crazy, also can you just use any national flag eg @FrankieEdgar https://t.co/wOiANkiYEm
— Brian Masterson (@masty1992) January 7, 2016
Here’s the Reebok policy according to UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Tracey Bleczinski:
A payment reduction is enacted when an athlete knowingly and seriously violates the policy after receiving an opportunity to correct it. The guidelines, the rules, the expectations were clearly laid out for everyone, and it’s our responsibility to our partners to make sure that we are administering all aspects of the policy.
Should he have been fined or was this an exception?