UFC and Reebok Partnership Expected to Lapse This Year

Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC 

Reebok, the official outfitter and provider of fight-kits for the UFC may be parting ways with the promotion at the end of the year. Since 2015 - the Boston based sports equipment provider has acted as the official outfitter for the organization, but since the beginning of that deal - the promotion has received audible criticism, due to the fact, competitors are unable to carry any sponsorships on their fight-kit, besides other promotional partners. At UFC 189 In July of 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada - the promotion debuted fight-kits for the first time.

High-profile criticism came from former UFC heavyweight contender, now podcaster, and comedian, Brendan Schaub - who detailed how he had experienced a significant loss of revenue off the back of the Reebok partnership.

Speaking with radio host, Dan Le Batard - promotional president, Dana White revealed that the deal between the UFC and Reebok is set to expire at the end of the year. He also explained how the organization are in talks with other sports equipment providers.

"It is (coming to an end), it comes up (Reebok partnership) - I think it comes up at the end of this year," White explained "And, yeah we're talking to people now."

When questioned about the possibility of fighters regained separate fight apparel sponsors, as was the case before the 2015 deal began - White explained that the fighters get a "piece" of the sponsorships the promotion as a whole, receives.

"Yeah, the fighters get paid," White said. "The fighters get paid for the sponsors we have, and they get a piece of that, and they can have whatever sponsors they want outside of the cage."