{"id":147201,"date":"2015-06-01T20:27:20","date_gmt":"2015-06-02T03:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=147201"},"modified":"2022-02-04T19:11:25","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T03:11:25","slug":"gilbert-melendez-latest-ufc-star-to-question-reebok-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/ufcnews\/gilbert-melendez-latest-ufc-star-to-question-reebok-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Gilbert Melendez Latest UFC Star to Question Reebok Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Gilbert<\/a><\/p>\n

Gilbert Melendez is getting ready to hit the octagon at UFC 188 when he finally squares off with fellow lightweight Eddie Alvarez. The two have been teasing a matchup since a DREAM Lightweight Tournament years ago and it’s finally becoming a reality.<\/p>\n

While Melendez is excited to be facing Alvarez, he isn’t too excited about the UFC’s deal with Reebok.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta), they\u2019ve done a lot for this sport, and they\u2019re smart men,\u201d Melendez told MMAjunkie<\/a>. \u201cSo, I have faith that they have an ultimate big game plan, and hopefully, this is better for the sport and yada yada yada… all that stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut with that said, it has the potential to hurt my pocketbook for sure,” Melendez admitted.<\/p>\n

Melendez went to to express his concerns with the deal. With only six fights under his belt, Melendez would be making $5,000 in sponsorship money if the deal was already in effect. \u201cI lived off my sponsorship money every day as an up-and-coming fighter,\u201d he said. \u201cJust my food, my rent \u2013 just so I didn\u2019t have to work as hard and I could focus on fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gilbert Melendez has relied on sponsors to make ends meet at times and believes that without sponsors, he would have quit the fight game to become an average joe and work a normal job. \u201cThese people have watched me grow to see where I\u2019m at, and I love to represent them in there,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a way to make it in this sport. I don\u2019t think, without sponsors, I\u2019d be where I\u2019m at today. I would have had to throw in the towel and get a real job, and I think some fighters are going to have to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it’s undeniable that sponsors have helped in the past, do you think fighters like Melendez and Aldo need to see the bigger picture or are they correct?<\/p>\n

Championship Mindset — Cain Velasquez Prepares For UFC 188<\/strong><\/p>\n