Reebok gonna Reebok.
A week doesn’t seem to pass without the sports apparel giant becoming embroiled in some kind of controversy as a result of its deal with the UFC.
The latest incident of a fighter calling them out came on Thursday when UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione had to remove his non-Reebok shoes during media obligations for UFC Fight Night 81.
Mitrione met with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani to explain his situation.
“They (My shoes) are outside. I had some J’s on my feet and that was not part of the attire. So I came in barefooted,” Mitrione said.
“Not necessarily,” Mitrione answered when asked if he knew that this would happen.
“I thought it was possible that it’s considered ‘dressed up’. From where I’m from, that is considered dressed up. J’s are dressed up, you know? It’s also the reason why I had to wear something above my polo [shirt]. There’s just certain stipulations and rules now.”
Mitrione, who faces Travis Browne on Sunday’s Boston card, also revealed that that bout will be his last on his current UFC deal and that he’s already rejected a contract offer from the promotion.
“This is the last fight on my deal,” Mitrione said. “Lorenzo (Fertitta) and I had some talks and just didn’t come to an agreement.
“In fairness to them, he offered a significant pay increase from where I’m at but I felt like that money was just replacing the sponsor money that I’m no longer getting.
“There was nothing on their part that was coming out unless after I win then I get X and I didn’t think that was appropriate so we talked about it and I offered them a performance-laden contract and they didn’t want that. So I was like ‘cool, just rescind my original contract, I’ll fight it out and we’ll see what the hell happens.”
