It seems that one of the continuing drivers for notable talent testing free agency has been the UFC’s Reebok deal. The stranglehold on sponsorship in the UFC has provided a key bargaining chip for other organizations looking to net notable fighters. Even, it turns out, for fighters who may not end up making as much money right away, without a Reebok contract.
At one point, Rory MacDonald was one of the UFC’s brightest rising stars. Expected by many to shoulder at least some of the legacy of Georges St-Pierre as a top talent from Canada.