Reebok, a sponsor of the UFC, has publicly denounced the remarks made by Colby Covington regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.
Following his victory over Tyron Woodley at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, Covington criticized the movement during his post-fight press conference. He referred to Black Lives Matter as a “sham” and labeled its supporters as “terrorists” and “criminals” rather than hardworking Americans.
Reebok distanced itself from Covington’s remarks with a statement on the Bloody Elbow website, clarifying that while they are the official uniform provider for the UFC, they do not sponsor Covington. The statement affirmed Reebok’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement and their solidarity with athletes and communities advocating for change.
In addition to his comments on Black Lives Matter, Covington faced backlash for targeting fighters Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley with his remarks.
UFC President Dana White defended Covington’s right to express his opinions, stating that the UFC allows freedom of speech and does not necessarily view Covington’s comments as racist. However, the controversy surrounding Covington’s statements regarding Black Lives Matter continues to spark debate within and outside of the MMA community.
