The UFC's six-year, $70 millions partnership with Reebok likely hasn't gone as smoothly as both sides hoped.

Both Reebok and UFC have maintained a very positive united front publicly, but getting the promotion's roster of fighters and their fans to buy in to the new tiered sponsorship payout system has been a work in progress.

As the partnership's disciplinary arm, the UFC was forced to fine three of its most notable athletes following their Dec. 19 bouts at UFC on FOX 17 for non-compliance.

Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was fined $10,000 by the promotion for wearing another sponsor's shirt at the official weigh-in while his opponent Donald Cerrone was cited more than $5,000 for having a bit of the American flag stitched inside his Reebok fight shorts.

Outspoken lightweight Nate Diaz insinuated on Twitter that he was also fined an undisclosed sum for wearing jeans to the weigh-ins prior to facing Michael Johnson. Luckily for Dos Anjos and Diaz, they each took home an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses.

Those were #reebokjeans u should've just kept the whole check I don't need that baby ass shit anyway .. #1000✌ ️ — Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) January 10, 2016

Speaking with the Boston Herald, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta compared the infractions to school students breaking a uniform code.

"I think it's not fair for fighters not to comply with the outfitting policy," Fertitta said. "It's a very, very small minority of athletes that haven't complied so far. It's like when you went to school, you know? Some people get detention for being out of uniform. It's not that hard. Tuck your shirt in."

UFC athletes currently earn between $2,500 and $40,000 per fight to wear Reebok and Fertitta expects those numbers to rise. According to him, the promotion is paying more out to athletes that it actually brings in via royalty payments from Reebok.

"Heck yeah, man, when this thing grows and Reebok actually builds a sustainable business, fighters are going to get more money allocated to that," said Fertitta.

"I think we're going to look back in 10 years and look at some of these fights back from 2011, 2012, and go, ‘Wow, did the UFC really look like that?'"

5 MUST-READ STORIES

And new. Dominick Cruz scores a split decision over T.J. Dillashaw to regain the UFC bantamweight title in Boston.

TUF. UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and top contender Claudia Gadelha will serve as the coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter and then fight in the finale.

Yikes. Fox Sports suspends Kenny Florian for plagiarizing portions of a preview article.

'I want to be a UFC fighter.' Cris Cyborg says the UFC "lost something" by not bringing her in at featherweight.

More movies. Ronda Rousey will star alongside Tina Fey in "Do Nothing Bitches" comedy.

MEDIA STEW

Octagon interviews with Dominick Cruz and T.J. Dillashaw.

Highlights from Cruz vs. Dillashaw and Pettis vs. Alvarez.

A look at the controversial eye-pokes between Browne and Mitrione.

Dana White recaps Cruz vs. Dillashaw.

Miesha Tate agrees with Holly Holm's coaches about her being more dangerous than Rousey.

Ronda Rousey is ready for new friends.

Long watches.

UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz post-fight press conference

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KNUCKLE UP #332: UFC FN 81 + The Breakdown on the Shakedown

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(short but good)

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TWEETS

Check out Pros React from Cruz vs. Dillashaw and This Week in Struggle.

Buds.

#andnew congrats @TheDomin8r , crush you are an inspiration. You never stopped believing. Congrats brother! pic.twitter.com/iL9EXxmNFX — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 18, 2016

"Remember, ring rust is nothing more than mental weakness." ~Dominick Cruz Congratulations Champion #Inspired — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2016

Agree?

I had @TJDillashaw , I think the Judges watched a different fight. — Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) January 18, 2016

Get well soon.

I'm sorry I lost tonight. If this was my last fight, I wanted to go out on my shield. The eye pokes had an effect but things happen — Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) January 18, 2016

Broken orbital floor. This and the shoulder happened after the 2nd eye poke. I don't think they would've happened pic.twitter.com/wFn1NC3j5Y — Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) January 18, 2016

With everything that happened tonight, I need to state that the @ufc has taken great care of me tonight. Thank you. — Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) January 18, 2016

Mea culpa.

Kenny is by FAR the most knowledgeable when it comes to mma media and has walked the walk. Live, learn, move on https://t.co/wOot2Td8AC — Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) January 16, 2016

You site 1 person and its plagiarism. You site 3 people and it's research. Ridiculous. — Chael Sonnen (@sonnench) January 16, 2016

Could be.

In 3 weeks this could be our reality @cainmma , @lukerockhold. Unreal to even think about.... https://t.co/0N5Dpbkv81 — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) January 16, 2016





Back to lightweight.

Beef.

@TeamKhabib Why are YOU asking for a fight in MARCH when you were offered One against me in end of FEB? Are you not hurt anymore? — Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) January 18, 2016

@bethecorreia if you think you can last longer than a round with me call @seanshelby and @danawhite and ask to fight me! I already asked! — Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) January 17, 2016

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced this weekend (Jan. 15-17 2016)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha at Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale: Jedrzejczyk vs. Gadelha

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.