TapouT

What TapouT does

TapouT is an MMA-inspired apparel and sports equipment brand that designs, manufactures, and distributes athletic clothing, boxing gloves, handwraps, and related training gear. Founded in 1997 by Charles Lewis Jr., Tim Katz, and Dan Caldwell, the company began by selling t-shirts out of a Ford Mustang at Las Vegas MMA events, scaled to become the largest MMA clothing manufacturer by 2007 with revenues over $22.5M, and has since broadened its positioning from hardcore MMA fans to mainstream athletes, trainers, and fitness-conscious consumers. The brand has been owned 50/50 by WWE and Authentic Brands Group (ABG) since March 2015, and TapouT, LLC now operates as a Delaware LLC subsidiary managed out of ABG's New York headquarters.

TapouT's product portfolio centers on boxing gloves (men's and women's lines), bundled boxing kits including handwraps, and casual athletic wear. The brand runs a channel-partner-led go-to-market: products are sold almost exclusively through third-party retailers — Dick's Sporting Goods, Walmart, Amazon, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Kohl's — with a small direct-to-consumer presence via its own tapout.com e-commerce site. Pricing is set by retail partners rather than the brand. Revenue is generated through wholesale hardware sales plus an emerging licensing-and-brand-extension stream that, since the 2015 ABG/WWE investment, has expanded into supplements, branded gyms and training centers, and sports beverages.

The brand holds the registered trademark TapouT™, maintains an active Instagram presence, and benefits from legacy content assets including the Tapout reality show that aired on Versus network for two seasons starting in 2007. Operationally the company sits within ABG's brand-management infrastructure, with TapouT, LLC serving as the legal vehicle and ABG providing hosting and licensing functions. The customer base is individual consumers rather than B2B, and the brand has effectively migrated from a niche MMA vertical to a broader fitness/lifestyle positioning under ABG's portfolio playbook.

Name

TapouT

Legal name

TapouT, LLC

Website

https://tapout.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TapouT is an MMA-inspired apparel and equipment brand offering boxing gloves, handwraps, kits, and athletic clothing to fighters, fitness enthusiasts, and casual athletes. Owned 50/50 by Authentic Brands Group and WWE, it distributes through Dick's Sporting Goods, Walmart, Amazon, Academy Sports, and Kohl's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Athletic Apparel and Combat Sports Equipment

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting Goods Retailers (459110)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Combat Sports & Boxing Fitness Equipment Retail (Bags, Gloves, Pads, Wraps) (CRAMADAI)

Keywords

• MMA apparel
• Boxing equipment
• Combat sports clothing
• Athletic training gear
• Boxing gloves

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Terrace

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Apparel and merchandise sales: Tapout generates revenue through the sale of MMA-related clothing and merchandise including boxing gloves, handwraps, t-shirts, and other athletic apparel. Products are sold through major retail partners and the company's own platform.
2. Licensing and brand extensions: Following the 2015 WWE/ABG investment, Tapout expanded into supplementary product categories including supplements, branded gyms and training centers, and sports beverages through licensing agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

TapouT designs, licenses, and sells MMA-inspired athletic apparel and combat sports training equipment, including boxing gloves, handwraps, and boxing kits. The brand is distributed through major U.S. sporting goods and mass-market retailers as well as international markets and its own e-commerce channel. TapouT, LLC operates as a Delaware subsidiary of Authentic Brands Group, with the TapouT trademark co-owned by WWE and ABG.

Product overview

TapouT is an MMA-inspired apparel and sports equipment brand offering a focused product portfolio of boxing gloves (men's and women's styles) and bundled boxing kits. The brand's offerings are primarily distributed through major retail partners including Dick's Sporting Goods, Walmart, Amazon, and Academy Sports. The product line targets MMA fighters, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts seeking athletic wear and training gear.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Boxing Gloves

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dick's Sporting GoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey retail partner for Tapout products including boxing gloves (men's and women's) and boxing kits. Products are prominently featured on the Tapout website with direct shop links.
• WalmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail partner offering Tapout boxing and MMA merchandise through Walmart's e-commerce platform.
• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline marketplace partner for Tapout products including boxing gloves and MMA gear.
• Academy Sports + OutdoorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSporting goods retailer partner for Tapout boxing and MMA merchandise.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Venum: Venum is the official outfitter of UFC and a leading global MMA and combat sports apparel/equipment brand. It is directly comparable to TapouT as both sell MMA gloves, handwraps, training gear, and apparel to combat sports athletes and fans through major retailers and direct e-commerce.
• Everlast: Everlast is an iconic boxing and combat sports equipment and apparel brand with global distribution. Comparable to TapouT due to overlapping product categories (boxing gloves, handwraps, training gear) and similar target customers (boxing/MMA athletes and fitness consumers).
• Hayabusa: Hayabusa is a premium combat sports equipment brand specializing in MMA gloves, boxing gloves, and training gear. It is comparable to TapouT in product category (boxing/MMA equipment) and target market (combat sports athletes and enthusiasts), though positioned at a higher price tier.
• Sanabul: Sanabul is an emerging MMA and combat sports apparel/equipment brand selling boxing gloves, handwraps, and gear online and through major retailers. It is a direct competitor to TapouT in the same product categories with a similar direct-to-consumer plus retail channel strategy.
• RDX Sports: RDX Sports is a UK-based combat sports equipment and apparel brand with strong global distribution including US retailers. It is comparable to TapouT through overlapping boxing/MMA product lines and a similar value-oriented positioning in the combat sports segment.
• Title Boxing: Title Boxing is a major boxing equipment and apparel retailer/manufacturer with both retail stores and e-commerce. Comparable to TapouT in core boxing products (gloves, wraps, kits) and target market of boxing/MMA athletes, though it operates its own retail chain giving more vertical control.
• Bad Boy MMA: Bad Boy is a combat sports apparel and equipment brand founded by MMA veterans with strong UFC ties. It is comparable to TapouT in its MMA-authentic positioning, overlapping product categories (gloves, shorts, apparel), and target customer base.
• Fairtex: Fairtex is a Thai-based Muay Thai and MMA equipment manufacturer with strong global distribution. It is comparable to TapouT through overlapping combat sports equipment (gloves, handwraps, training gear) and shared focus on authentic martial arts consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Under Armour: Under Armour is a global athletic apparel and footwear giant with combat sports product lines and broad distribution through Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon, and others. It competes with TapouT in the broader fitness/athletic apparel category and overlaps in retail channels.

Others

• Authentic Brands Group: ABG is the parent company of TapouT (50% owner alongside WWE) and one of the largest brand management platforms globally. It is comparable as the parent/operating entity managing TapouT's licensing, distribution, and brand extension strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tapout
• Xx.com/tapout
• Facebookfacebook.com/tapout
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tapout

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TapouT