Whenever possible, whether sponsored or not, Anderson prefers Nike branded materials. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
In December last year, the UFC signed a contract worth more than R$180 million that guarantees exclusivity in the supply of sporting equipment with Reebok, so that all of the organization's athletes will wear uniforms in the octagon and branded clothing throughout the entire season. official agenda of your fights. Despite the mandatory use of the event and the figures involved, Anderson Silva does not seem to be inclined to join the partner brand from now on.
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“I don’t like that idea. When you use a brand, it needs to be true, there needs to be a connection. I have no identification with Reebok. I always wore Nike, even before I had a contract. Just because our bond is over doesn't mean I'm going to stop using it. It's a truth, a brand that I identify with. There’s no point in putting up a brand that doesn’t have a relationship”, said Spider, in an interview with the Terra portal.
According to Anderson, if he appears with another brand, other than those he gets along with, he would not convey sincerity to his fans. “I'm not going to use it because it won't be true, I can't tell my fans something that isn't true. I always have my uniforms made and maybe I'll keep wearing them. I haven't renewed my contract with Nike yet, but I don't use the brand because it's stronger, but because I've always used it. In fact, not only me, but my whole family, we only wear Nike and Adidas,” he said.
Despite resistance, however, at least during fight week, in official programs and publicity materials, Anderson Silva will have to give in and wear Reebok. This is because the agreement signed between the sporting equipment supplier and the UFC comes into effect next July and, from then on, it does not allow any fighter, whether an established champion or an unknown newcomer, to appear in the Octagon without make use of the brand. The contract guarantees that for the next six years, fighters will receive amounts proportional to their positions in the official ranking, in payments related to their image rights, and also a portion of the revenue from products related to them.
Additionally, athletes will be able to maintain their personal sponsors and participate in events, advertising actions or use their products and services, as long as this does not happen at any official UFC event. On the other hand, the display of other brands on clothing, caps or banners is prohibited.
The first event held with the new contract in force will be UFC 189, on July 11th, in Las Vegas (USA). The card follows “International Fight Week”, an annual fair held by the UFC, where Reebok will also have exclusive rights to expose its brand to athletes and the organization.
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