Werdum removed from UFC broadcasting duties after Reebok protest

Fabricio Werdum's criticism of the UFC's deal with Reebok has its consequences.

On Friday, the former heavyweight champion posted a video on Instagram in which he revealed that his issues with the promotion's exclusive apparel partner have resulted in him being relieved of his international broadcasting duties:

Werdum recently posted a Photoshopped image of himself walking to the Octagon with a Nike logo on his fight kit. He explained that he can wear whatever he wants when he's not at a UFC event, and that other fighters need to be aware that they have the same freedom when it comes to sponsors.

The English portion of the caption on Friday's video reads as follows:

"I did this to protest about the sponsorship, before Reebok got into the UFC, all the fighters used to (get) a lot of money with other sponsors, including me, and now they (are) paying me only $5,000 per fight. I didn't get penalized because I have (a) contract with them, but they cut me out of the (UFC Network TV broadcasts)."

Fluent in Spanish as well as Portuguese, Werdum had previously worked in a broadcasting capacity for the UFC's Latin America-based programs. The ban is unlikely to have any effect on his upcoming rematch with Cain Velasquez at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.