Issue 131
August 2015
With the UFC’s Reebok deal looming, flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez has left his management company to continue his career without representation.
The Team Alpha Male product was managed by MMA Inc, which represents elite fighters including Urijah Faber, Anthony Pettis and Paige VanZant; but due to the guaranteed payments from the new apparel arrangement, he decided it was time to cut out the middle man and go it alone.
“I felt like I could do it myself, and at this point in my career, save some money. I think managers are definitely going to have to change their business model a little bit. For one, they’re going to have to step up outside the cage.
“It’s not going to be as easy as, ‘Hey, be on the banner and pay us money,’ because that’s easy to do,” explains the 30-year-old.
With 18 fights inside the UFC and WEC, the New Mexico native is eligible to earn $15,000 per fight from Reebok, which he says is more than he’s made in sponsorship money for a fight since he first fought Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight title at UFC 152 back in 2013.
Mousasi back on track
Despite the furor surrounding the UFC’s Reebok sponsorship scheme, leading middleweight Gegard Mousasi stepped out for his latest fight in Manila carrying the logo of one of the biggest blue chip sponsors in sports.
The Dutchman, who defeated Costas Philippou in the Philippines, has become a brand ambassador for Bridgestone, the world’s largest manufacturer of automobile tires. Not bad for a guy who only weeks previously was bemoaning sponsors after filing a law suit against the Fear the Fighter brand.
“This is a meaningful sponsorship for me and a milestone in my career,” Mousasi told MMAjunkie. “Bridgestone is the most-recognized tire company globally. It is an honor to have been chosen by them to be their first sponsored professional MMA athlete. I am proud to be their recognized brand ambassador.”
Pinned: The movie
The comedian behind the vaunted World MMA Awards skits and host of the MMA Roasted podcast has penned a movie script and is asking fight fans to help fund it.
Adam Hunter describes Pinned as wrestling’s version of Bad News Bears, Mighty Ducks, Kingpin and Vision Quest all rolled into one.
A standup comedian by night, by day Hunter coaches a high school wrestling program in Southern California, and the feature film isn’t too far away from his own story, showing how the values you learn on the mats can equip you for life.
Thanks to his phone full of A-list MMA contacts, he also teased the prospect of some of the UFC’s leading lights featuring – as long as he can generate the $500,000 startup costs. Visit the project’s page on indiegogo.com to back it.
x2
Following their inaugural joint event in March, Legacy FC and RFA have announced their second co-promotion is planned for later this year.
36
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed a first-time offense for a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs in the state will now be punished with a 36-month suspension and a 50-70% purse fine.
...
