Conor McGregor shared an official Reebok video ad on Twitter and Instagram last week, showing that Reebok, in the final year of its apparel deal with UFC, "stands behind the sport's biggest star as one of its endorsed athletes despite his troubling" situations in '19, according to Simon Samano of MMAJUNKIE.com. McGregor in the spot "promotes a line of the company's sneakers," teasing that they "would be available" yesterday. Last year included McGregor "pleading guilty to assault" when he was caught on camera "sucker-punching a man in an Irish pub." McGregor in March also was the "subject of a sexual assault investigation" in Ireland, and in October, it was reported that he was "being investigated for a second alleged sexual assault" in the country. McGregor has "denied the allegations only through his manager," but has "yet to comment publicly." Reebok's decision on McGregor is a "different response to a previous situation the company faced on the subject of sexual assault." Reebok in '13 parted ways with rapper Rick Ross after lyrics in one of his songs "alluded to raping a woman" (MMAJUNKIE.com, 1/12).
FAST FEET: FOOTWEAR NEWS' Peter Verry noted McGregor in the ad wears a "black and orange pair of the Reebok Zig Kinetica laced up." McGregor jumps over a "toy train in the video," and when he lands, the soles of the sneakers become "electrified." He then looks "down at the floor at an action figure" and then became on himself. Verry noted despite the promotion, it is "not known whether this is a collaboration with the MMA star or if he is promoting a general release shoe" (FOOTWEARNEWS.com, 1/10).
BUDDING DESIRE: SHERDOG.com's Tristen Critchfield noted UFC fighter Donald Cerrone has "received a special commemorative Budweiser can ahead of his showdown with McGregor" this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. One side of the can features an image of a "Cowboy" along with the phrase "Live a life worth living." Additionally, Cerrone's UFC records "are listed" (SHERDOG.com, 1/12). ESPN's Brett Okamoto noted Budweiser will be selling the Cerrone cans in Las Vegas this week ahead of Saturday's fight. He said to Cerrone, "After all of these that I've seen you consume over the years, it feels fitting to have your face on one now" (INSTAGRAM.com, 1/12).
