On the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub estimated that his Fighter and The Kid t-shirts earn more revenue than the UFC – Reebok fight kits. Schaub later explained his stance on MMA Junkie Radio, saying the fans think the Reebok sponsorship is B.S.
“100 percent. As far as UFC fight kits sold, I’m willing to bet we sold more t-shirts this year than the UFC has sold ‘fight kits.’ I’m not going to give the number out, but we’re doing well. You don’t want to brag about that kind of stuff. Is that really a compliment? Saying that we outsold UFC fight kits? Those things are terrible.
“I think A) it’s $100 and B) fans smell bullsh-t, man. Fans know bullsh-t. You can’t bullsh-t the public anymore and get away with it. Reebok, first of all, no one really rocks Reebok. But we’ll support Reebok because they support the fighters. But, then you find out how much the fighters are making and fans do not support that. They smell bullsh-t. You think you’re going to honey d-ck an educated UFC fan, and you’ve got another thing coming. You go on Reebok’s Facebook page and read the comments when they post something UFC, and it’s tough. They’re going through a transitional period. I think everyone expected this and they can get their footing and make some changes to realize this wasn’t the way to go. I’m sure the UFC expected this.”
As previously reported, Schaub is taking a sabbatical from the UFC because he’s unwilling to go along with the company’s uniform deal with Reebok. Under the deal, fighters are paid substantially less in sponsorship money per-fight than usual.
Related: Brendan Schaub: “I can’t see myself in a f*cking Reebok kit walking out to that Octagon”
