The much-discussed deal between the UFC and sports apparel giant Reebok has come under scrutiny from many fighters but none with a bigger name than Anderson Silva.
The former middleweight champion, who returns to the octagon tomorrow night, revealed in an interview with Terra that he believes identification with a sponsor is a must and that he feels no link to Reebok.
“I don’t like that idea,” Silva said. “When you wear a brand, it needs to be true; there must be a connection. I don’t identify with Reebok at all.”
Silva has long been associated with Reebok‘s rival Nike and “The Spider” claims that there was more than a sponsorship between himself and the brand.
“I’ve always worn Nike, even before I had a contract with them,” he said. “Just because our ties are severed, it doesn’t mean I’ll stop wearing it. It feels true; it’s a brand with which I identify. It’s no use to sport a brand to which I have no relationship.”
Silva is insistent that he will not wear any Reebok gear because he feels that it conveys a lack of honesty to his fans.
“I won’t wear it because it won’t feel true; I can’t show something to my fans that isn’t true.”
The UFC recently signed a multi-million dollar deal with Reebok which will see all of its athletes and their cornermen follow an outfitting policy which comes into effect in July whereby they must exclusively wear Reebok apparel. But Silva may have the staying power to refuse to do so.
“I always have them [Nike] make my uniforms and I may continue using them,” Silva said.
“I haven’t yet renewed my contract with Nike, but I don’t wear them because they’re the stronger brand, but because I have always worn it. In fact, not only I but my whole family, we only wear Nike and adidas.”
