Cage Fighter Out, Is Punishment Athletics Next?

MMAPayout.com posted a pretty unnerving news item today, saying that apparel company MMA Authentics, best known for its Cage Fighter Brand, has banned from the UFC. The crime? Beating out the UFC for shelf space at Wal-mart. I really hope this story isn't true.

Here's the dirty sexy part of the story:

Sources told MMAPayout.com that CageFighter/MMA Authentics beat out the UFC for the valuable real estate in the nation’s top retailer. As a result Zuffa pulled the plug on MMA Authentics’ access to the Octagon in retaliation.

The UFC is able to take such measures by exercising Article 22.1 of the Zuffa Standard Contract, which states that “Fighter covenants and agrees that no wording, symbols, pictures, designs, names or other advertising or informational material… ii. of any sponsor in conflict or competition with Zuffa or any of Zuffa’s sponsors.”

According to the UFC Sponsor Request form sent out to all fighters and obtained by MMAPayout.com, “in addition to Affliction and the Xtreme Couture t-shirt brand, Cage Fighter, MMA Authentic, Familia Gladitoria and MMA Elite will also not be permitted. The Xtreme Couture Training Center is permitted provided, however, the logo must clearly refer to the mixed martial arts training centers and gyms.”

While I don't imagine it will be that difficult for big names guys like BJ Penn and Forrest Griffin to find new sponsors for their upcoming fights, but this is a dangerous step towards the UFC monopolizing every possible angle of MMA.

One question I have to ask is, is Tito Ortiz' Punishment Athletics clothing line the next to go? Dana would like nothing more than to see Tito fail and I don't think screwing over some fighters would stop him. Well, I guess they're safe until the UFC decides to get into the Halloween costume business.