Ranger Up Out as a UFC/Strikeforce Sponsor, Will Still Pay Fighters

Quote :: The Zuffa purchase of Strikeforce
had some positives and negatives for the sport of MMA. At the
Strikefoce event in Dallas, Zuffa enacted their "Sponsor Tax" and caused
some issues with fighters and sponsors, many of whom lost out on money.
It seems that Strikeforce Middleweight contender Tim Kennedy's company Ranger Up is another clothing company to not have access to sponsoring fighters anymore. In a discussion with MMA Payout, Ranger Up President Nick Palmisciano explained what happened:

We are in fact "out" [as sponsors], but are still supporting all of
our athletes financially as if they wore the Ranger Up logo into the
cage. We also completely understand and have no issue with Strikeforce’s
position. It is a sign the sport is growing. We hope to be back in
Strikeforce and the UFC soon, but until then continue to support and
sponsor military athletes at all levels, and are very proud to have been
able to advance the sport in the military community these past 5
years.
This is not just the right attitude to take when speaking to the
media, it is also the right attitude to take as a sponsor. The fact that
fighters will still be paid as if they wore the brand into the cage
says a lot about Ranger Up. Also for those that remember some companies
before the Dallas event being extremely vocal about the sponsorship tax,
it is nice to see a President handle this situation professionally and
with class. He would add something that I think is key to companies who
wish to enter sponsorship:

Sponsoring a guy does not do anything for you. It’s sponsoring
people, over time, that you believe in, that share your values, that are
going to represent the brand well. Taking care of them, they will take
care of you. It’s building something that has substance. No one event is
going to make you a successful company.
Maintaining a small core of athletes is one of the key factors in
growing a brand identity. When you look at larger brands such as Head
Rush who essentially sponsor any fighter in need of a shirt or how
TapOut became after the death of Charles Lewis when they had a massive
roster of fighters, it is refreshing to see a brand committed to
creating an identity with fighters who will represent the company in and
outside of the cage.

headkicklegend

I have no doubts that we will see Ranger Up back in the octagon. They're a strong brand with a good cause and clearly they have the right attitude to make it in this biz.

That's fucking legit! War Ranger up!

I don't understand though? Are they just out because they can't pay the fee?
And so if that's the case what makes them think they'll be able to pay it later?

Also, Jorge Rivera has a fucking tatoo of Ranger Up on his leg??????

Crazy.

I think the idea is they are going to have to wait until they get big enough so they can pay the sponsor fee.

Yeah, thats exactly whats going on. Like I said I have no doubt in my mind that we will see them again.

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