Grand Opening Festivities to Take Place in Las Vegas on Friday June 19 and Saturday, June 20

LAS VEGAS, NV (June 8, 2009) — TapouT, the premier mixed-martial arts apparel, gear and lifestyle brand, is officially opening the doors of the new TapouT Research & Development Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grand Opening weekend is set to take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 19 and June 20 at 4040 West Hacienda Avenue, Las Vegas, NV.

The flagship TapouT R&D Training Center in Las Vegas is a 13,000-square-foot facility and the first of its kind to be built by the company, whose brand has become synonymous with the attitude and prominence of mixed martial arts. TapouT’s distinctive, authentic logo graces everything from clothing, accessories, and gear, to nutrition products and a magazine.

“As mixed martial arts continues its phenomenal growth, TapouT recognized the need for a fitness facility that could offer the dual functionality of MMA and fitness training,” said Dan “Punkass” Caldwell, TapouT Co-CEO and Co-Founder. “The TapouT Training Center is the first full scale training facility of many that we plan to build nationwide with 7Base Consulting, our exclusive licensed partner.”

“TapouT’s priority is to help build and support the mixed-martial arts industry in a variety of ways,” says TapouT Co-CEO and President Marc Kreiner. “By introducing the TapouT Training Center, we’ve added another element to ensure that the integrity and growth of the sport continues for generations to come.”

In addition to a full day’s schedule of demonstrations of MMA fighting techniques, autograph sessions with the TapouT crew and other MMA celebrities, plans for the first day of the Grand Opening on Friday, June 19 include the wildly anticipated U.S. debut of the Professional Armwrestling League (PAL). PAL, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria has announced the electrifying card for its two 95 kilogram, six round matches.

The first match pits the world’s number-one ranked arm wrestler John ”The Living Legend” Brzenk (6-0 in 2009) from Sandy, Utah against the number two armwrestler in the world Denis Cyplenkov (1-0 in 2009) from Russia. In the second match, Ion “The Iron Man” Oncescu (1-1 in 2009) from Romania will meet Michael “Monster” Todd (1-1 in 2009). Todd and Oncescu are ranked 14th and 15th in the world, respectively.

The PAL event will be filmed live at 8:30 p.m. (PDT) from the TapouT R&D Training Center on Friday, June 19 on PAL’s web site, www.armpower.net, and will be broadcast at a later date on PAL’s European television network.

The second day of the Grand Opening kicks off at 10 am on Saturday, June 20 and is open to the public until 3 pm. Activities will include exciting demonstrations of MMA fighting techniques and skills, autograph sessions with the TapouT Crew and other MMA celebrities, drawings for TapouT apparel and opportunities for the public to step into an actual TapouT Octagon. Other equipment on display will include a full-sized boxing ring, bag racks, and cage barrier walls all featuring TapouT’s iconic brand.

A one-time-only promotional Grand Opening membership rate will also be available to the public for the many specialized training classes and programs being offered to children and adults, male and female.

In addition to the full-scale training centers, the company has also recently founded TapouT MMA Clubs. These amazing 2,000 square feet facilities can be built into already existing facilities. The first TapouT MMA Club is now operating at Gold’s Gym, located at Buffalo Ave. and Lake Mead Blvd. in Las Vegas.

About TapouT
TapouT is the world’s leading mixed-martial arts apparel, gear and lifestyle brand on the market today. TapouT started as a vision by Co-Founder Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., and has since become a pioneer of the MMA movement and a $100 million empire. Representing some of the biggest MMA superstars including Chuck Liddell, Frank Shamrock, Thiago Alves and Anthony Johnson, TapouT produces the hottest apparel for men, women and children. Their distinctive, authentic logo graces everything from clothing, accessories, and gear, to nutrition products and a magazine. TapouT is also the exclusive apparel sponsor for Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” through 2011.

For millions of fans worldwide, the TapouT lifestyle inspires those to reach their goals and know that anything is possible if they “Simply Believe.”