New Policy Worries UFC Fighters, Industry Sources
Though UFC appears on track for its biggest summer in history–UFC 100, UFC 101 and UFC 102 will all be strong pay-per-view draws–not all recent UFC developments have thrilled the roster.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, one such move of concern was the company’s decision to implement a $100,000 licensing fee for all companies that wish to sponsor fighters. The news comes just days after reports that UFC has banned certain companies, notably including sportsbooks, from making promotional efforts in the Octagon.
Lower-tier fighters have historically made a large portion of their annual earnings from small-scale sponsorships, but if the new policy remains in effect, many of the organizations that were paying a few hundred or thousand dollars to sponsor fighters will now have to cease doing so, as the $100,000 entry fee will deter a lot of fringe providers.
Sources say the motivation behind the move is two-fold–it gives UFC control over which firms get to receive logo display and possible fighter mention on televised UFC events and also potentially locks such sponsors out of competing promotions like Strikeforce and Affliction. Sponsors that pay the $100,000 license fee will be committing a lot of money to UFC and its fighters and might consequently opt not to continue spending promotional dollars at other mixed martial arts events.
