Vitor Belfort says Reebok deal left him 'pretty much living in slavery'

[Wild]

Vitor Belfort talks about fighter pay, the next generation, and his legacy in the sport as he prepares to take on Ronaldo Jacare at UFC 198, on May 14.

A true veteran of the sport, and close to his 37th professional fight, Vitor Belfort is none too happy with the way the UFC handles sponsorship these days. In fact, as he spoke to Sportv, "The Phenom" says the Reebok deal feels too close to slavery, compared to how it was before the new contract arrived.

"MMA is a lot closer to entertainment than sport these days. I'm not satisfied with the way the company is handling sponsorship. We are pretty much living in slavery. We can't use our own sponsors, they are banned inside the Octagon. We have no properties."

Since the Reebok deal was established, in July 2015, Belfort said it has…


Vitor Belfort says Reebok deal left him 'pretty much living in slavery'

 

[ECC170]

he's right...i wonder what his networth is?

 

[Ted Williams' head]

The best thing for Vitor to do is get away from UFC and USADA, go to Bellator or Rizin where he'll (presumably) make more money away from the Reebok albatross and he can TRT to his heart's content.

 

[KWingJitsu]

I ......... don't think slavery means what Vitor thinks it means. ...

 

[Pitbull9]

Im happy a veteran like Vitor is speaking up. He isnt afraid of any backlash and when youre not afraid the truth is easy. When you are afraid and you have shit to lose you say things like

the reebok deal is great

so glad we are part of this amazing company

i love the fight kit

Reebok is way better then Nike

 

[Jehannum]

couldn't help myself

 

[Jehannum]

Reebok need to do a full series of misspelt UFC fighter kits to increase sales, as I bet they are abysmal currently

Spoiler: lol

seriously, I'm one of the many that would buy AND wear parts of a Giblert Melendez kit

Spoiler: lol

 

[lookoutawhale]

lets hope more make the move to bellator!

 

[member 3289]

I ......... don't think slavery means what Vitor thinks it means. ...

Bro don't be racist

 

[Robbie Hart]

It's not like the guy is hurting or this impacts him much IMO.

He was gifted a title shot twice and got the shit beat out of him twice recently (from what I can remember). He didn't make peanuts and no, I didn't read the article.

He did, however, earn my ever lasting respect for kicking the shit out of bisping, lol.

 

[Judobill]

I ......... don't think slavery means what Vitor thinks it means. ...

 

[Atto]

Boxer are making millions and these ufc fighters are paid shit and now this reebok .. fighters like Vitor should be making big at this point of their career .. I hate ufc

 

[PeteyParker]

"The good thing about breaking records is when you're not worried about it. When you are, it becomes frustrating. My happiness comes from within. Breaking records is what I do best".
-Vitor Belfort

Oh Vitor, your whole career has an asterisk and will be questioned like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. There is no legacy you can leave, only gullible MMA fans will think otherwise.

http://deadspin.com/a-sketchy-drug-test-didn-t-stop-vitor-belfort-from-figh-1717739475
Such a sketchy career.

 

[Yossarian]

Good for him to speak up.

 

[Qat]

It's not like the guy is hurting or this impacts him much IMO.

Pretty sure the sponsorship money for the stars in Brazil were huge.

 

[Jehannum]

Pretty sure the sponsorship money for the stars in Brazil were huge.

especially as the UFC have a deal with that big network down there (globo?) that regularly wanted Belfort on Brazil cards

 

[dacofty]

never thought id agree with anything TRT(less) Vitor had to say, but he is correct Zuffa is nothing but a slave driver with sticky fingers

 

[Disciplined Galt]

It's not like the guy is hurting or this impacts him much IMO.

He was gifted a title shot twice and got the shit beat out of him twice recently (from what I can remember). He didn't make peanuts and no, I didn't read the article.

He did, however, earn my ever lasting respect for kicking the shit out of bisping, lol.

I think you're moving into my "people like that get slapped category"

 

[Robbie Hart]

I think you're moving into my "people like that get slapped category"

Thanks for the feedback. Just so I can round off the edges to my posting skills, what took me so long? I've been working hard to her in that category.

 

[regular john]

It's not like the guy is hurting or this impacts him much IMO.

He was gifted a title shot twice and got the shit beat out of him twice recently (from what I can remember). He didn't make peanuts and no, I didn't read the article.

He did, however, earn my ever lasting respect for kicking the shit out of bisping, lol.

what does this have to do with what he's saying?

he had a massive sponsorship deal with SKY TV that went to shit because of reebok.

 

[member 3289]

I think you're moving into my "people like that get slapped category"

I'm sure he's terrified

 

[TheEmperorRises]

He also said no matter what he'd never leave the UFC, so there's that.

 

[The EZ Life]

Can someone do the math (with a little bit of research) and create an organized chart of the pay fighters made from outside sponsors in comparison to the reebok sponsor pay they make?

i know a lot of the fighters make a lot less, but would be cool to see how much less in each of their recent fights.


70million over 6 years is nothing in the big picture.... morals and ethics seem to be lacking in the ufc brass.

 

[blas4ublasphemy]

I've never understood how the UFC could institute such a policy without giving the fighters an option to terminate their contract.

The fighters agreed to their contracts under a set of circumstances wherein they were able to supplement their income with in cage ads in an industry standard manner, in their line of work this is expected.

Now the UFC has taken this away yet expects it's fighters to honor their contracts regardless and simply learn to live with less?

It'd be like a diner instituting a no tip policy without meaningfully compensating the wait staff and then telling them they aren't allowed to quit.

 

[PrideRules]

Oh Vitor, your whole career has an asterisk and will be questioned like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. There is no legacy you can leave, only gullible MMA fans will think otherwise.

R u a shill or u Forrest Gump?

No legacy? Former UFC HW champ. Former UFC LHW champ. KTFO current UFC MW champ.

How u no like the Vitor bro?

They're all on steroids. Everybody.