:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48858567/500_Rafael_Dos_Anjos_vs_Donald_Cerrone.0.0.jpg)
Reebok be damned.
UFC welterweight Donald Cerrone is tabbed to earn a $20,000 sponsorship payout for wearing Reebok in the Octagon this weekend, according to the Athlete Outfitting Policy compensation system, but it could end up looking closer to $15K.
Following his loss to lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos Dec. 19 at UFC on FOX 17, Cerrone was docked for stitching a small piece of the American flag inside his fight shorts to honor his grandmother. Cerrone hasn't disclosed the exact amount of the fine but told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that the "ludicrous" fine was more than $5,000.
Booked to headline Sunday's UFC Fight Night in Pittsburgh opposite Alex Oliveira, Cerrone doesn't sound like he plans to conform.
"I need to go on record and say I'm not the victim," Cerrone told ESPN. "I was fully aware I would be fined before the last fight. I knew the circumstances going in, I just didn't know how much I was getting fined. Dana and I talked and came to some grounds that we're going to stick to.
"There's a pretty good chance I will [wear the patch on Sunday], yeah."
Cerrone wasn't the only fighter who received a reduction in their AOP back in December. Dos Anjos told MMA Fighting that he was docked $10,000 by the promotion for wearing a sponsor tee on stage weighing in against Cerrone. Fellow lightweight Nate Diaz earned a $50,000 performance bonus for his decision victory over Michael Johnson but later complained of being penalized for wearing jeans at the weigh-ins.
Cerrone has been critical of the Athlete Outfitting Policy compensation system since its inception and at the time claimed he stood to lose $60,000 a fight due to the program.
Cerrone might not be a fan of the arrangement, but it sounds like he's at least willing to pretend.
"The company man side of me says, ‘Nope, that's the perfect answer,'" Cerrone told Yahoo! "Nope, that's about it. Reebok's doing a great job, three thumbs up."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
'Everyone will forget him.' Jose Aldo says Conor McGregor won't have any UFC belts by the end of 2016.
Better than life? Wanderlei Silva suspended three years for evading May 2014 drug test.
Switching it up. Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is training with Frankie Edgar's striking coach Mark Henry.
All the kicks. 0-2 after losing his lightweight title, Anthony Pettis faces Edson Barboza at UFC 197.
Sandbaggin'. Dada 5000 says his unspectacular open workout was all just a ruse. "I showed them what I want them to see."
MEDIA STEW
Inside the Octagon with Ariel Helwani.
Conor McGregor isn't worried about moving to 170 and says he "folded up" the damn Mountain that Rides.
Kimbo and DADA got weird at the Bellator 149 presser. (Full presser here)
Ronda Rousey was in a much better mood on Jimmy Fallon.
Firas Zahabi teaches some knee on belly techniques.
Brush up on bad MMA.
Long watches.
...
...
TWEETS
Excited?
April 23rd #ufc197 https://t.co/IsqEmva6lY
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) February 18, 2016
Soon.
--->>>2 weeks ago|| --->>>Duas semanas atrás #Jesus #Jesusfirst #evolvemma #evolvefightteam #fletcherjonesnewportbeach #AndStill #kingsmma #gordojj
Posted by Rafael Dos Anjos on Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Last man standing.
Fans ask my how do you stay focus. I tell fans that I basically don't want a X on my face lol pic.twitter.com/5Ajm23UFQ7
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) February 17, 2016
Giving back.
Was an entertaining night teaching self defense and awareness to the sorority sisters of UC... https://t.co/imujt7PAvr
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) February 17, 2016
Beef.
Wash your mouth, or I'll wash it for you @Young__Assassin https://t.co/imD5F8tjm9
— Patricky Freire (@PatrickyPitbull) February 18, 2016
@PaddyHolohanMMA @stuarty06 @ufc @seanshelby hold up give me a sec I still have some fight left in me pic.twitter.com/SMPhhH6wdf
— Willie Gates (@WhOopassWilliE) February 17, 2016
@WhOopassWilliE @stuarty06 @ufc @seanshelby home with your shield or on it ...you wouldn't know anything about that kind stuff ya bum
— Patrick Holohan (@PaddyHolohanMMA) February 17, 2016
Clean.
When I get drug tested randomly. This is the result I get Anderson! https://t.co/J1rhLyfCnH
— michael (@bisping) February 18, 2016
Haters.
Dada 5000 has a career??? https://t.co/iSJ0E3Ifeu
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) February 17, 2016
Sort of a T2 thing going on.
#nickdiaz https://t.co/cGfTQCPPig pic.twitter.com/bdyWew5Prd
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) February 17, 2016
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 17 2016)
Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Pettis at UFC 197
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
Get the latest gear
Loading comments...