Ben Askren Goes Off On ‘Terrible’ UFC-Reebok Fighter Pay
Ben Askren will make his long-awaited UFC debut when he meets former champion Robbie Lawler at tomorrow’s (Sat., March 2, 2019) UFC 235 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. ‘Funky’ has a few things to say about his upcoming Reebok pay before he does.
The outspoken former ONE and Bellator champion recently revealed to MMA Fighting (via Bloody Elbow) during the UFC 235 media day that the pay to wear Reebok gear is no good. He neglected to consider that before signing with the UFC but now knows it. If he did it over, he’d negotiate a bigger payout:
“I only have to wear Reebok to this.
“I got put in that damn first bracket,” he added. “I didn’t think about that [when I signed with the UFC]. When I thought about it, I probably should have negotiated the Reebok money up ’cause they’re not paying me enough. I think it’s $3,500 only? It’s pretty terrible.”
Most UFC competitors have derided the UFC-Reebok apparel partnership since it went into effect in 2015. Fighters are no longer allowed to use their own sponsors in the cage. It has severely limited their ability to make sponsorship income as a result.
Askren said he made more money in that area back when he was fighting for Bellator:
“Sponsorship’s been all over the place. Even when I was a nobody in Bellator, I made $20,000 on a fight. Those were the wild days. Back then, guys in the UFC were making six figures on sponsorship stuff.”
He may not be making much in sponsorship cash, but Askren is going to be on track to make major cash for his fights if he can get past Lawler. Most are predicting him to do that at UFC 235. Are you among them?
