Add MMA legend Vitor Belfort to the list of fighters who have issues with UFC’s current Reebok sponsorship arrangement.
Ahead of his UFC 198 bout against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in Curitiba, Brazil this Saturday, “The Phenom” spoke about some of his problems with the UFC’s Reebok sponsorship deal.
“MMA is a lot closer to entertainment than sport these days,” said Belfort during an interview with Sportv. “I’m not satisfied with the way the company is handling sponsorship. We are pretty much living in slavery. We can’t use our own sponsors, they are banned inside the Octagon. We have no properties.”
Belfort continued, “My happiness comes from within. Breaking records is what I do best. I hope I can leave a legacy which fighters can use to raise awareness about a minimum wage pay. It’s a contact sport. I don’t think it’s fair for someone to earn 500 dollars to be elbowed in the face. There has to be a retirement plan, which does not exist now. That’s something for the next generation. They need to save their money and invest. They need to know the athlete life will end.”
Belfort-Jacare joins Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic for the UFC Heavyweight Championship as the top two matches scheduled for a stacked UFC 198 fight card in Curitiba, Brazil this Saturday, May 14, 2016.
Visit MMANews.com on 5/14 for the best UFC 198 live results coverage on the web!
H/T to BloodyElbow.com for transcribing the above quotes.
