Tapout, Silver Star & Hitman Sold

Once rivals, TapouT, Silver Star Casting Co., and Hitman Fight Gear are now on the same team.

Bloomberg on Monday night reported that the three key mixed martial arts clothing brands have been purchased by business man Jamie Salter, who is also known for having snapped up such name brands as Linens ’n Things Inc., Polaroid Corp., and others.

Salter is reportedly putting the three brands together under his Toronto-based company Authentic Brands Group LLC.

“These are some of the most exciting brands I’ve seen in years,” Salter told Bloomberg. “The popularity of mixed martial arts and the UFC is soaring around the world. The last time I saw a sport with this much potential was 20 years ago with snowboarding.”

TapouT has the furthest reach into the mainstream of the three companies purchased, accounting for sales of more than $200 million dollars last year.

TapouT president Dan “Punkass” Caldwell told Bloomberg that there had been no shortage of buyers, but went with Salter because he welcomes the continued involvement of Caldwell and his partner, Tim "SkySkrape" Katz.

Caldwell and Charles “Mask” Lewis founded TapouT in 1997, selling t-shirts out of the back of their car.

Lewis died in a high-speed car crash on March 11, 2009.

Source: mmaweekly.com