Tapout President Talks New Deal With WWE, How UFC-Reebok Deal Will Affect Them

MMA Junkie spoke with Tapout President Dan "Punkass" Caldwell this week about the company's new WWE deal, and the UFC's sponsorship deal with Reebok. The highlights are below, and you can check out the full article at this link.

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."

On sponsors in the UFC not being the same as it used to be:

"Domestically, it's had some troubles. 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."

UFC's exclusive deal with Reebok:

"I feel sorry for them (the fighters). 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."