UFC sponsor Monster Energy said on Monday that the company is investigating Dominick Cruz’s claims that Hans Molenkamp, the energy drink company’s business development representative, took advantage of his position with fighters for benefit staff.
“We take these allegations seriously and are currently investigating,” wrote a Monster spokesman to MMA Fighting. No additional details were offered.
Cruz, a former bantamweight champion, used his post-victory speech at UFC 259 to call for a benefit fight with Molenkamp, a former fan and MMA practitioner who served as a link between the sport and Monster sponsorships for more than one of each. The former bantamweight champion claimed that Molenkamp linked individual sponsorships to personal social media posts and interviews. He said there were other people who made similar complaints, including UFC president Dana White.
“Look at my face, look at my body, I am beaten to death for a living,” Cruz said at the UFC 259 press conference after defeating Casey Kenney via split decision. “So when you try to force me and send me a message if I don’t comment on your page, if I don’t give you an interview, are you going to keep what you pay my bills for? What are we doing? Monster sponsors me, not you. ”
A telephone number used by Molenkamp for several years was disconnected on Monday.
White supported Cruz’s claim that he and several fighters clashed with Molenkamp, but said it was Monster’s decision to take action or not. White said that, in general, Monster went beyond UFC fighters by distributing additional money in individual sponsorships; the energy drink company reopened with the promotion in February as the main sponsor.
“Is Hans a goofy guy? Yes, he is a very silly guy, ”said White. “But they are sponsors. These guys are sponsors, they are great sponsors, [and] they pay these guys a lot of money. … It is a privilege to get money from a sponsor. So, if you don’t like the way they do business, don’t do business with them. “
The UFC executive clashed publicly with Molenkamp on social media in 2019 after the representative claimed to link him to ex-professional skater Rob Dyrdek.
Molenkamp last week started a GoFundMe for the funeral expenses of his former MMA trainer. A post announcing online fundraising was filled with comments on Cruz’s callout.