Respect Your Universe Secure First Athlete Sponsorship Deal with UFC Fighter Jon Fitch

Respect Your Universe, Inc. (RYU) announced today the signing of top MMA Welterweight Fighter Jon Fitch to their first athlete endorsement deal.

Fitch, who is noted as one of the highest ranked pound-for-pound Mixed Martial Artists (MMA) in the UFC.

John Wood, President of RYU, said: “We are all very excited to have Jon join the RYU team as our first Mixed Martial Arts athlete. Jon embodies the spirit and essence of respect, honor, strength and nature; the pillars of RYU. We look forward to working with Jon and his team in the continuing growth of RYU.”

With a MMA record of 26-3-1-1, Fitch has defeated impressive fighters throughout his UFC career (beginning in 2002) and holds wins over Diego Sanchez, Paulo Thiago and Mike Pierce as well as two wins over one of the most dominant Welterweights in the UFC — Thiago Alves. Fitch’s UFC record is 13-1-1 and is tied second for most consecutive UFC wins (eight) with Royce Gracie.

Currently, Fitch is training out of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, where he is preparing for his first UFC fight in almost a year that will take place on December 30^th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“It is an honor to represent RYU as their first premiere athlete in the UFC,” said Jon Fitch.”The quality of their products and the values that they stand for are the same qualities that I have displayed in the octagon and will continue to value on my quest toward becoming the UFC Welterweight Champion.”

As a UFC Veteran, Fitch has a background in Wrestling, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under David Camarillo and is a MMA, Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu Seminar Instructor in addition to being an American Kickboxing Academy Team Captain.

Prior to his UFC career, Fitch graduated from Purdue University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and a Minor in History. At Purdue, Fitch was a four-year letter winner in NCAA Division I Wrestling receiving the 2002 Purdue University Red Mackey Scholarship, the “Most Dedicated” Wrestling Award in 2002 and was also the 2002 Wrestling Team Captain.

This announcement follows RYU’s recent partnership with the UFC.