The UFC and TapouT are basically joined at the hip. They may as well be the same company at this point.

Josh Gross

For the UFC, according to sources familiar with the company’s thinking, motivations are simple: the promoter wants its share, which it believes it earned by providing the platform for fighters to make significant sponsorship dollars; protection for official sponsors, such as Bud Light and Harley Davidson; additional control over brands gaining exposure to UFC audiences; and to further marginalize MMA agents and managers.

Several managers with track records of friendly relations with Zuffa said the potential loss of sponsorship dollars is nearly unjustifiable.

For instance, one top competitor on the card could miss out on as much as $300,000 in guaranteed funds after two deals fell through following word of the UFC licensing requirement, SI.com has learned. While a new sponsorship situation emerged that could be as lucrative, nothing is guaranteed.

If the UFC uses it’s marketing dept. to bring in a higher class of sponsors to sponsor fighters is it possible fighters could actually make more money? Just wondering cause everybody seems to be focusing on and exploring the negatives of this and not really delving into what the positives could be.

For example could the $100k make sponsors commit to sponsoring more fighters. If they have to pay the UFC $100k for a six month window then wouldn’t they be enticed to get their moneys worth and maybe sponsor more fighters than they would have. I mean if that $100k gets them 6 months of UFC events it breaks down to a very reasonable amount per event if they sponsored fighters on every event. My thinking is it would entice the sponsors that do commit to the $100k to sponsor multiple fighters on every event as a way to get the most out of that $100k commitment.

Several managers with track records of friendly relations with Zuffa said the potential loss of sponsorship dollars is nearly unjustifiable.

For instance, one top competitor on the card could miss out on as much as $300,000 in guaranteed funds after two deals fell through following word of the UFC licensing requirement, SI.com has learned. While a new sponsorship situation emerged that could be as lucrative, nothing is guaranteed.

um so a guy was going to make 300k off sponsorships but now won’t because the ufc is charging 100k as a fee?, maybe my math is off but that doesn’t quite add up.

Anyways like many of the other so called controversies regarding Zuffa’s business practices I don’t see the problem the UFC is ultra popular and a great bang for these companies buck. If they can’t shell out top money to continue to sponsor fighters in one of the few business that are making bank in a reccession they need to question what the hell they are doing.

Is this any different from other sports? One example of sponsors being a problem.

Sweden just hosted the u-21 european soccer championship and one of the best arenas was banned by the UEFA from hosting any games because they had the wrong fast food venue. (Mcdonalds put their foot down)

I’m not saying this is a good thing with Zuffa trying to control sponsors but as the UFC gets bigger and bigger it’s only natural that we will see them control more stuff.

It’s not like they’re banning fighters from getting any kind of sponsors they want.. Just wearing the logos into the cage. Just like anyother sport.

people seem to be throwing condomdepot under the bus here. why? b/c of their name or what they sell or stand for? why not replace them w/ tapout from when tapout was just starting out?? i think people’s opinions would change then.

it’s interesting if what luke wrote is true: that TapouT “asked for this” from the UFC, and that “UFC is trying to distance themselves from the likes of condomdepot.” I understand the argument re: the UFC wanting to garner bigger names and possibly more sponsorship through their new ‘requirement’, however, what if a company such as TapouT was the one trying to break in and help out fighters w/ this requirement when they were just starting out? they probably never would have made it and it’s a bit hypocritical of them i think to ask the UFC this.

a co. that started out, out of the trunks of cars certainly wouldn’t be able to break out of the grassroots stages based on what the UFC is implementing now and is it fair to say that b/c you find TapouT’s name more amenable than condomdepot that they should rightly be banned or shunned? it still goes back to the smaller companies who just don’t have the money to pay that much and the smaller fighters who will suffer from this. it’ll become a sponsorship game for the rich or semi-rich company that can afford to pay the 200K and still pay the fighters a decent amt. of money.

again, the focus should not be on condomdepot itself, but the co. like it that may not sound as cool as TapouT or sell a product that doesn’t “fit” into what people want. and if you try to compare it w/ other major sports leagues, the difference is vastly greater in terms of the player’s pay. almost all professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, etc. all make a pretty decent living w/o relying on sponsors, whereas, other than the bigger name UFC guys, most make nothing and as was stated in the article, probably make 40% of their salary from sponsorship. that is a big deal to lose that.

maybe in the long run it will ultimately lead to more fighters being sponsored but somehow, i just don’t see that happening; the more you shut out competition and choice, the more stifled and controlling the environment you seem to get, at least thus far that seems to be the track record w/ the UFC. the situation w/ the EA games while different seems to show that the UFC just wants dominion and control, not to do the right thing w/ getting paid by sponsors and luring in bigger sponsors.

Not saying whether or not this is a good thing for Zuffa, but it is the way the sports world is moving and, although it is a change, it really isn’t something to get worked up about.

How much did the NFL fine Urlacher for wearing a Vitamin Water hat? How much does it cost to have the right to sponsor a nascar (not to mention what happened to Jeff Burton there)

There is precedent for this in other sports, and more and more stuff like this is going to happen as Zuffa grows

Player’s Unions!! This seems to be the only way the fighters can and will be able to protect their interests if the UFC continues to move in the direction they are.

And payscale still being a big factor. A guy can play a whole season for any other sport and live very well. NOT so in the UFC. that has to change or the contraction on their avenues to earn money will greatly diminish

sorry getting late…

the contraction on their avenues to earn money will leave them unable to be a professional fighter

I think now is a good time to reflect on a pience MMAPayout did back in January on the UFC and 360 contracts. This is another step in that direction. Whether 360 contracts are good or bad is open to discussion but history suggests that Zuffa’s priority may not be the fighters, so it doesnt appear not to be a particularly good thing for the them.

I don’t see what’s so wrong with CondomDepot. Condoms have done more good for the world than Harley Davidson, Bud Light, TapouT, MMA Warehouse, Bad Boy, Sprawl, Cage Fighter, and Full Tilt Poker combined.

People assume the companies can’t pay 100k. The UFC is one of the best vehicles out there for advertisers wanting to hit a specific demographic. Perhaps the sponsors are just grumbling about prices rising but are capable of paying the fee. What if they’ve been misjudging the value of the advertising – as we all know the PPV buys just keep on growing.

100,000 for 6 months?? Holy Hell Batman!!

Who cares? How much does a company pay for a 30 sec commercial on Monday Night Football? It bet its a shitload more than 100,000

I find it funny that people are against this idea, yet at the same time saying they want the fighters to get paid more. How the hell are they supposed to pay the fighters more? Are Dana and Lorenzo supposed to go chop down the trees and make the money themselves?

Everyone will have the same 10 sponsors

how complicated/expensive would it be for the ufc to actually broadcast the undercard? would it be too expensive in the ppv format to change it from a 4 hour to a 6 hour broadcast? at least this way, (undercard) fighters would actually get some exposure. earn more in spornsorships as well