Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The UFC® and New Evolution Fitness Company (NEFC), announced today that UFC Gyms will partner with Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, UFC’s Welterweight Champion, and BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, reigning Lightweight Champion to build “St-Pierre” and “Penn” UFC Gyms, with locations planned for St-Pierre’s native city of Montreal and Penn’s home state of Hawaii.
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The UFC® and New Evolution Fitness Company (NEFC), announced today that UFC Gyms will partner with Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, UFC’s Welterweight Champion, and BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, reigning Lightweight Champion to build “St-Pierre” and “Penn” UFC Gyms, with locations planned for St-Pierre’s native city of Montreal and Penn’s home state of Hawaii.
St-Pierre and Penn, who compete in a historic rematch for the UFC Welterweight Championship belt at UFC 94: ST-PIERRE vs. PENN 2 this Saturday, Jan. 31, live from MGM Grand Garden Arena, are the first UFC athletes to have UFC Gyms featuring their name and likeness.
"Besides being a great way for us to connect with UFC fans on a daily basis, UFC Gyms is another way that UFC is providing economic opportunities for UFC athletes outside of the Octagon," said Dana White, UFC President. "Combining the UFC brand with superstars Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn gives them an exciting business venture that is unprecedented in the fight industry."
"When you are presented with the opportunity to work with two of the greatest athletes, Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn, in the fastest growing sport in the world, the UFC, in two great destinations, Montreal and Hawaii, with the best promoter in sports, Dana White, and the business talents of Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, your decisions come fast and easy," said Mastrov.
“UFC Gyms” will be the first major brand extension for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the all-time industry leader in the sport of mixed martial arts. In alliance with NEFC owners Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley, developers of many of the world’s most successful fitness brands, UFC Gyms will give UFC enthusiasts and fitness seekers alike the opportunity to practice the training techniques of famed UFC athletes, including Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn in their respective UFC gyms.
"It is a dream come true to have a St-Pierre UFC Gym in Montreal," said St-Pierre. "Ever since the UFC came to my country, the sport has been so huge - I know this gym will be very popular."
“I’m very excited to be a part of this tremendous opportunity, I look forward to working with the UFC to make UFC Gyms a huge success,” said Penn. “It will be such an honor to have a UFC gym in my name, and right in my homeland of Hawaii.”
With a diverse, loyal fan base of millions in the United States and abroad, UFC Gyms will become the fitness destination of choice, providing all-around training, conditioning and health options for men, women and children of all ages.
For more information about UFC Gyms, please visit UFCgyms.com.
About The Ultimate Fighting Championship®
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, Bell ExpressVU, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.
About New Evolution Fitness Company
Based in Northern California, New Evolution Fitness Company (NEFC) is a private equity firm focused on the Health and Fitness industry, providing capital and operating partnerships, management oversight, and expertise to emerging brands around the world. NEFC was founded by Mark Mastrov, an industry visionary and developer of some of the world’s most successful fitness brands and Jim Rowley a long time fitness professional.
###
Press Contact:
Jennifer Wenk
Ultimate Fighting Championship
702.221.4790
jwenk@ufc.com