TapouT President Discusses The New TapouT/WWE Deal, More

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Tapout President Dan “Punkass” Caldwell spoke about the brand’s new deal with WWE. Here are highlights:

On attending WrestleMania and finalizing the WWE deal: “We’re really excited about the deal. It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been working on it for awhile, and it’s just finally come together. This is my first WrestleMania, so I’m excited.”

On UFC’s sponsorship issues: “Domestically, it’s had some troubles here. I feel for some of those other brands that are out there because I was knee deep in that stuff. I was sitting next to these guys at shows. You create this kind of warrior relationship with these guys because they’re all working hard. I just know that it’s going to be hard for them at this point now going beyond what’s happened with the UFC and their deal. But, what’s great about Tapout is that we’ve been around so long that we kind of excel beyond. We mean more than the UFC. It’s athletics, it’s – when you think about Quiksilver or Volcom, it doesn’t mean you have to be a surfer to wear Volcom. But yet, that’s what it is. A lot of people don’t even think about that anymore. It’s just a brand that’s out there. It’s a brand that’s made its way, and it’s excelled beyond its own sport, and I feel that’s where Tapout is today.”

On the UFC’s deal with Reebok: “I feel sorry for them. I’m hoping the UFC can put that together for the fighters. It’s really about the fighters for us. It’s always been about the fighters. We want to – they’re the ones that are really putting it on the line. We hope it works out.”

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