You can either follow the rules or not. If you don’t, you’re going to pay… with your money.
Just ask Donald Cerrone.
After UFC partnered up with Reebok and USADA, the new Reebok uniform policy states that fighters aren’t allowed to wear anything that’s not Reebok during fight week. That includes any outside sponsors (sorry budweiser), and unauthorized customization or modifications.
Turns out, Cowboy had an unauthorized patch on his shorts during his bout with Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 17. This patch holds a personal meaning to Cowboy as it honors his grandmother.
Donald don’t give a damn!
UFC Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Tracy Bleczinski via MMAJunkie:
“A payment reduction is enacted when an athlete knowingly and seriously violates the policy after receiving an opportunity to correct it. The guidelines, the rules, the expectations were clearly laid out for everyone, and it’s our responsibility to our partners to make sure that we are administering all aspect of the policy.”
Oh well, live and learn. Or do it again.