City Kickboxing fighters will still wear silver fern

Confusion over whether New Zealand’s MMA fighters can use the silver fern logo has been resolved after New Zealand Rugby assured Auckland’s City Kickboxing that it did not raise any trademark concerns with UFC.

Eugene Bareman, the cofounder and head trainer of famed Auckland gym City Kickboxing, passionately defended his fighters’ rights to wear the silver fern when he spoke at a press conference yesterday.

He had said UFC had been contacted by NZR about trademark concerns over the proposed use of the silver fern.

‘‘The UFC is stopping us from using the silver fern because they have been contacted by the All Blacks [NZR] and asked not to use it because it has been trademarked,’’ said Bareman, while middleweight champion Israel Adesanya displayed photos of iconic All Black Richie McCaw wearing the silver fern followed by photos of his fighters battered and bruised after a bout.

But NZR said it had not been involved in any discussions.

‘‘NZR has not had any communications with the UFC around the use of our logos,’’ the rugby union said.

‘‘We are supportive of all sports people representing New Zealand, but are protective of our commercial IP including the specifically designed NZR fern.’’

After a day of confusion, City Kickboxing issued a statement, saying the issue had been resolved after ‘‘miscommunication’’ involving the UFC.

‘‘All Black management contacted this afternoon to advise that no one from their legal or management team has been in contact with the UFC.

‘‘The All Blacks have been very gracious under the circumstances and reassured us that they’re very much supporters of our New

Zealand UFC teams and other New Zealand sport teams going overseas and that’s heartening for us.

‘‘We’re also want to reiterate that we’re absolutely ardent supporters of the All Blacks and what they do for our country.

‘‘It appears there has been miscommunication within the UFC and a lawyer from the same law firm who look after the All Blacks trademark rights.

‘‘We are pleased to say we will be making our walk to the cage as proud Kiwis with the Silver Ferns on our shoulder, as we have for the past five years.’’

The UFC has not yet commented publicly despite requests from Stuff.

As the home of Adesanya and the rest of New Zealand’s UFC contingent, City Kickboxing has established itself as one of the leading combat sports gymnasiums in the world.

‘‘Everybody who represents our country internationally earns the right, especially my guys, and obviously I’m biased, to represent their country and wear that symbol,’’ Bareman said at yesterday’s press conference.

‘‘We wear it on our uniform, we wear it with great pride, and it doesn’t matter whether you were born in Nigeria or Samoa, it doesn’t matter where you come from. It’s very important to us. It’s something that we represent.’’