MMA: Authentic Brands Group May Change The Face Of MMA Apparel As We Know It

The Authentic Brands Group, a lesser known "athletic-lifestyle brand" just took a big step in changing MMA apparel as we know it now.

Earlier today, MMA Junkie reported that ABG had announced a major deal in which they've acquired the leading names in Mixed Martial Arts-based clothing and apparel.

To put it in simplest terms, they've now gained TapouT and Silver Star in one big move that could do well to take the two companies and turn them into global brands which would be distributed worldwide.

Said an MMA Junkie Staff Member on the matter:

ABG officials say they are a global brand-building company in apparel, action sports, consumer electronics, and home and celebrity brands. TapouT and Silver Star will help the company's continued move into the MMA market.

"This sport is still in its infancy," ABG chairman and CEO Jamie Salter stated. "We strategically chose these acquisitions as our first big move because we're getting into the right business at the right time. We're looking forward to working with the best brands and the best athletes in the world as we transition these two companies into global lifestyle brands with our retail and licensing partners."

The deal also includes the TapouT MPS brands as well as the Iron Star company and Hitman Fight Gear.

Unquestionably, this could be a big breakthrough for MMA apparel companies around the world, as the deal hopes to be one in which Silver Star follows suit like TapouT did and gains partnerships with licensed retailers so that their brands would be sold in even local stores like Champs and Dillard's.

If you will recall, the TapouT clothing company, started in 1993, began as an expression of combat known throughout the MMA community, but eventually dominated the world of MMA apparel and brands by gaining licensed retailers around areas of the U.S.

With this new deal with ABG, TapouT hopes that its brand will be known worldwide.

Fans of the brand should have nothing to worry about, as Dan "Punkass" Caldwell and Timm "Skyskrape" Katz, the two men better known as the close friends and business partners of late UFC Hall of Famer Charles "Mask" Lewis will still be with the company.

One can only imagine what will happen now that Silver Star and TapouT, formerly rivals in 1993, are now under the ABG umbrella together.