Ever since UFC announced the new mandatory Reebok sponsorship deal for fighters, there has been an incredible amount of backlash from the athletes. Earlier this week, Georges St-Pierre, who has the luxary of speaking his mind — which he points out — talked about what it’s like to be in the UFC and not be able to speak freely.
“I’m wealthy now,” said St-Pierre said during a recent media scrum, which you can watch above. “A few years ago, I didn’t make as much money. It was easy for people to say, ‘Oh yeah? You’re talking bad about us? Out. You’re out. We don’t hire you.’ There are a lot of guys in the same situation. They think the same things as me, but they don’t have the power I have. I don’t need to fight anymore. If I don’t want to fight, I am wealthy, I am happy. I don’t need this anymore. I don’t have to. Maybe I would like to, but I don’t need to.”
GSP also spoke about the pressure fighters are under not to voice their complaints towards the UFC, alluding specifically to UFC’s recent controversial release of longtime cut man Jacob “Stitch” Duran.
“Some of the guys, when you’re a professional athlete, it’s not a jet set life,” said St-Pierre. “It’s a very hard life. These guys, they don’t make a lot of money. They need to keep their mouths shut. If you open [your mouth] and say what you think, you saw what happened in the Reebok thing. If you talk bad about certain things you’re kicked out.”
GSP continued, “Some of these guys, they need the income. I understand that and I’m no different. But now I’m in a position where I can say what I think. I’m just not disrespectful. I don’t say names or anything, but this is a problem. I’m talking for a lot of people. Trust me.”
H/T For Transcribing: MMAFighting.com
