"Our designs, our team, our message...right down to the way we do things. Most brands don't care if their product is shit, if they paste the same logo on a t-shirt 2000 times, or if the quality of their merchandise is garbage, as long as they can sell the hell out of it. HEADRUSH is the opposite. We want people to notice the feel, the fit, the comfort of our apparel. We maximize our space with big designs and make sure we don't overkill it. We produce shirts you can train and fight in, as well as walk into a club or social event with. We don't settle for slapping a brass knuckle outline on our T-Shirt and calling ourselves fightwear," stated Gates Pompizzi as he talked about the HEADRUSH brand, their future plans and much more. Check it out!
PC: How is everything going Gates?
GP: Not bad, brotha. Just grinding over here. The brand is growing, so Im always on the grind. I'm so stacked, I've slept in my office the passed 2 nights!
PC: Tell us a little bit about how the HEADRUSH brand got started and your role with the company?
GP: HEADRUSH was basically conceived in March of 2009, just an idea someone bounced off me. I accepted the responsibility of getting it rolling and whatnot and, sure enough, it started the snowball effect and now here we are, a year and some later, full-blown clothing brand in the UFC, hitting stores, etc. As per what I do, well, just put it this way, I do a bit of everything.
PC: You guys work very closely with the MFC. How is that relationship working out?
GP: We are the official clothing choice of the MFC. We get along very well with the MFC and Pavelich Sports. Mark treats all his sponsors well and we always look forward to fight nights. I think if people don't already know the MFC, then they need to get educated. These guys have an unbelievable show. The fights are sick, the atmosphere is electric, the crowds are pumped. It's truly an experience.
PC: Could you tell us some of the fighters you guys sponsor and have sponsored in the past?
GP: Well, fighter sponsorships is a whole thing in itself and we've been growing quite a list recently, so naming them off will be hard, but some of the most recent are Chris Leben, Roy Nelson, John Fitch, Jonathan Goulet, Matt Brown, Stephan Bonnar, Forrest Petz, Alex Garcia, Daylin Logan, and the list goes on.
PC: Not only do you work with some top level fighters, but you also work with and support world-class trainer Firas Zahabi and world-class conditioning coach Jon Chaimberg. How did those relationships develop?
GP: Well, being in the same city as them helps a lot, but honestly, I think our level of support for grass roots local MMA helped a lot too. Firas and his crew at Tristar in general are very involved in the local promotions and happenings of MMA in Quebec and whatnot, and so is HEADRUSH. As per our relationship with Jon, we had someone that works here introduce him to the brand, he liked it, and then it went on from there.
PC: What is the process you go through to reach out to fighters or do you wait for sponsorship requests from managers?
GP: It's a give and take really. We always obviously reach out to managers for prospects we want to go after and to work with, but we also get tons of e-mails each day, from managers and fighters alike. It just really depends on how much visibility we can get, you know?
PC: Is there any fighter out there that you would like to work with, but haven't had the opportunity just yet?
GP: Oh, well obviously there always will be, but just know if HEADRUSH can't get someone, due to them already being under contract, we'll get those around them, trainers, managers and whoever, and eventually, they'll be on our side (laughing).
PC: There is definitely some synergy between HEADRUSH and FightHype because you guys not only sponsor mixed martial artist, but you have sponsored boxers before as well, and we cover both sports. Are you guys looking to expand into boxing more as well?
GP: Yeah, I guess we made a little splash into boxing. We are connected in both worlds. We would maybe like to lean on that side a bit more in the future. It's great visibility. Boxing has always been a more suitable spectator sport, so it's not really a bad idea when the time is right.
PC: Being that you guys are based out of Canada, I'm sure you are advocates in bringing more MMA to your country. What would that mean for you to see that?
GP: Well, We have MMA out here in Quebec and there is MMA out west, which is now growing again due to Vancouver being sanctioned, but Ontario will really open the flood gates. We actually attend the Toronto MMA Expo. We have been there 2 years now and the fans out there are great. When MMA passes in Ontario, and I strongly believe it will, it will generate big numbers and will signify the growing impact of MMA becoming more and more socially acceptable.
PC: What do you feel separates HEADRUSH from other MMA clothing?
GP: I think a little bit of everything. Our designs, our team, our message...right down to the way we do things. Most brands don't care if their product is shit, if they paste the same logo on a t-shirt 2000 times, or if the quality of their merchandise is garbage, as long as they can sell the hell out of it. HEADRUSH is the opposite. We want people to notice the feel, the fit, the comfort of our apparel. We maximize our space with big designs and make sure we don't overkill it. We produce shirts you can train and fight in, as well as walk into a club or social event with. We don't settle for slapping a brass knuckle outline on our T-Shirt and calling ourselves fightwear.
PC: Is there anything in the works that you would like to share with our readers?
GP: As much as I would love to share some future plans, I can't really go too much into detail. There is a lot in the works and people will be blown away. However, we are hosting a Roy Nelson afterparty at Rockbar in Vegas for the MAGIC/WEC weekend. Look for us at the upcoming UFC's and at all the upcoming MFC events, on all your fight web stores in the US, UK, etc.
PC: I appreciate your time. I look forward to speaking with you again soon. Give me some closing thoughts and be sure to let our readers know where they can find HEADRUSH products, as well as follow your social networks.
GP: It's always a pleasure, I definitely love the site and would love to sit down with you guys anytime. Anybody can search up HEADRUSH brand on Facebook, Myspace, as well as our website, complete with full online store, news and upcoming events and contests, at www.headrushbrand.com. Thanks for your time.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]