The idea goes something like this: When a fighter jumps from the UFC to Bellator, they’re likely to have their in-cage sponsorship money increase.
As the theory goes, this is because, rather than receive a flat payment from Reebok, the UFC’s official apparel sponsor, fighters are free to pursue their own sponsorships, and potentially make more money than they would in the UFC’s corporate structure.
Rory MacDonald, however, says he won’t make as much money with his sponsors in Bellator than he had been making in his old company, at least for his Bellator 179 main event on Friday against Paul Daley.
MacDonald explained on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour that than rather than hustle every last inch of his trunks and corner banner to any flight-by-night sponsor who comes his way, he’d rather take a short-term hit now and work to build a longer-term relationship with an established brand down the road.
Rory MacDonald making less sponsorship money in Bellator than in UFC
