Earlier this week former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum spoke out against the promotion’s official apparel sponsor, Reebok, but he’s now paid the price for stepping out of line.
“I’m not generic, I’m Nike since childhood! #suck #myballs #reebok,” Werdum had posted on Instagram on Tuesday alongside a photo of him wearing a UFC top, but with a Nike logo placed over the Reebok one.
Werdum had went on to explain that the post was a protest at the low payouts fighters were receiving since the Reebok deal began last year, revealing that he used to make over $100,000 per fight in sponsorship money, but now receives only $5,000.
The 39 year-old had also claimed he wouldn’t be punished due to the fact that he didn’t have a direct contract with Reebok, but the UFC have made it clear they won’t tolerate this kind of attack on one of their partners by permanently removing him from his side-gig as a part of the UFC’s Spanish language commentary team, as well as a ‘talking head’ on other Latin American programming.
“I wasn’t fined because I don’t have a contract, but they removed me from the UFC broadcasts as a commentator,” Werdum explained in a video post. “For three years, in which I did an excellent job, always worked very well with my partners, it was considered the best broadcast in Spanish in the world. I’m not happy, I thought it was absurd and wanted you to know. Thanks, guys.”
Werdum has reacted in disbelief at the decision, and believes the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
“If I had lost it because I was doing a poor job and nobody likes me, fine, but I know it’s not the case. I know I was doing a good job because I get messages from all Latin America saying that, and I have already received messages from people saying they will cancel the channel now.”
Werdum’s fighting career will continue though, and next up he’ll rematch Cain Velasquez at UFC 207 on December 30th in Las Vegas, with the winner almost certainly headed for another shot at the title.
