Alex Caceres: Reebok deal 'kind of kills' individuality

[Wild]

"I haven't fought under the Reebok deal yet. I can't entirely say whether it's benefiting me or not," Caceres told MMAFighting.com. "What I don't like about it, when they brought us together and talked to us about it, was I feel like it kind of kills the individuality and uniqueness of the persona of the people in the sport.

"I feel like we can't necessarily be ourselves anymore because we have to wear what they want us to wear, do what they want us to do. I mean, we can't even have our own walkout themes anymore in that sense or have banners. So it kind of takes away the person's uniqueness, their own personal feel that they bring to the sport, to the art. So I guess that part of the deal has disappointed me because, I don't know, it's just weird they took away the individuality of the sport. It just makes it kind of bland and blanded out," Caceres said.

Earlier this month, news emerged that several fighters had been fined for violating the UFC's Athlete Outfitting Policy by wearing non-Reebok apparel during the UFC weigh-ins and their respective fights. Unlike Donald Cerrone, who said on The MMA Hour that he is willing to sow the American flag to his shorts despite the risk of getting fined again, Caceres plans to follow the rules.

"I guess I would have to [follow the rules] because they would fine me," Caceres laughed. "I mean, what else could you do? If they're going to threaten to take away the time and effort you put in there and what you go out there to earn by literally risking your f-----g neck out there, then you know, I mean, what else could you do for them except for abide by their b------t rules or laws that they want to put up there?

"Do I think they should take away individuality from people? Hell no. It definitely brings color to the sport. All they did was just make the sport a lot more gray. Now, it's just generic fighters out there, and they seem to promote and blow up whom they want to. And that's about it. No one really gets a shot at the spotlight anymore because of the way they are or who they want to be anymore. It's just whoever they pay the most money to promote. That's all," Caceres said.

LINK: Alex Caceres: Reebok deal 'kind of kills' individuality and uniqueness in the sport

 

[Ted Williams' head]

He's 100% right.

It's pretty lame watching an event and seeing every fighter on the card wearing one of four different pairs of fight shorts, all of them with the same design. When you look at MMA's closest cousins - boxing and pro wrestling - you just don't see that. Guys want to look unique and leave a lasting visual impression, and the Reebok deal doesn't allow that.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

It 'kind of' kills individuality the way Jason Vorhees 'kind of' kills camp goers.

 

[Bluesville]

He's 100% right.

It's pretty lame watching an event and seeing every fighter on the card wearing one of four different pairs of fight shorts, all of them with the same design. When you look at MMA's closest cousins - boxing and pro wrestling - you just don't see that. Guys want to look unique and leave a lasting visual impression, and the Reebok deal doesn't allow that.

100% agree.

When I think of Alex Caceres I think of Venum shorts.

 

[mmadotcomisufcdotcom]

If he dyes his afro rainbow colors he will be individual enough for me.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

I wonder if he is going to put a reebok logo on his Bruce Lee outfit

 

[Narcosynthesis]

He can always start his own mma company and make his own rules.

 

[Robbie Hart]

He can always start his own mma company and make his own rules.

I yesterday in rogan's podcast that you actually got stone temple pilots to play at one of your birthdays? That must have been something special.............

 

[Jonny Quest]

He is spot on and Ive been saying the exact same thing well before they implemented this shit deal.

 

[TheAwkwardTitan]

Alex is completely right, but I bet he got a slap on the wrist for speaking this truth.

 

[BalloonBollicks]

Have to agree, I remember Dana going on a rant about condom depot etc but I always liked to see things like that, it was always part of the UFC event for me...a very small part but the UFC is the sum of those small parts.

 

[BrandonTheTruth]

I figured the Reebok deal wasn't going to be very good from the jump, but it's a lot worse then expected. Constant mistakes, fines, and they all look the same. Also taking away sponsors I understand not allowing Condom Depot but big sponsors like Xbox should be allowed. Too much trying to be like the NFL but not paying the athletes the same.

 

[Nemo?]

I figured the Reebok deal wasn't going to be very good from the jump, but it's a lot worse then expected. Constant mistakes, fines, and they all look the same. Also taking away sponsors I understand not allowing Condom Depot but big sponsors like Xbox should be allowed. Too much trying to be like the NFL but not paying the athletes the same.

Looking bush league in the process.

Fighter's dressing themselves added a nice flavor to mma and was great for branding.

 

[Silverball]

He can always start his own mma company and make his own rules.

Good point because it's a relatively easy thing to do once you locate a couple of billionaire brothers who inherited their father's casino business and an ex-Boxercise instructor who thinks he's knows a thing or two from managing one of the fighters signed to the organization that you plan on buying. Oh wait, that's right, Zuffa didn't start their own MMA company, but never mind that. From there it's pretty smooth sailing because even if you lose money at first, one of the brothers can always bail you out until your TUF moment arrives.

 

[Narcosynthesis]

Good point because it's a relatively easy thing to do once you locate a couple of billionaire brothers who inherited their father's casino business and an ex-Boxercise instructor who thinks he's knows a thing or two from managing one of the fighters signed to the organization that you plan on buying. Oh wait, that's right, Zuffa didn't start their own MMA company, but never mind that. From there it's pretty smooth sailing because even if you lose money at first, one of the brothers can always bail you out until your TUF moment arrives.

Exactly

 

[Yossarian]

Looking bush league in the process.

Fighter's dressing themselves added a nice flavor to mma and was great for branding.

That's the irony of it all. They wanted to have the more profesional look. They end up looking like a local bowling team, a church group's sports outing, etc. And the way these shirts fit somehow make the fighters appear less athletic.

Weidman should leg kick a line-up of Reebok personel, not just that one guy. Everytime they make a mistake, they need to call a fighter into the office to hand out leg kicks. Working for Reebok would require hazard pay.

 

[Ghost Bro]

That's the irony of it all. They wanted to have the more profesional look. They end up looking like a local bowling team, a church group's sports outing, etc. And the way these shirts fit somehow make the fighters appear less athletic.

Weidman should leg kick a line-up of Reebok personel, not just that one guy. Everytime they make a mistake, they need to call a fighter into the office to hand out leg kicks. Working for Reebok would require hazard pay.

"Kung Le at Quality Control please."

 

[Punch]

Good point because it's a relatively easy thing to do once you locate a couple of billionaire brothers who inherited their father's casino business and an ex-Boxercise instructor who thinks he's knows a thing or two from managing one of the fighters signed to the organization that you plan on buying. Oh wait, that's right, Zuffa didn't start their own MMA company, but never mind that. From there it's pretty smooth sailing because even if you lose money at first, one of the brothers can always bail you out until your TUF moment arrives.