LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - Dec 15, 2011) - Today, Respect Your Universe, Inc. (RYU) (OTCBB: [ RYUN ]) ([ http://www.respectyouruniverse.com/ ]) -- a recently launched premium high performance apparel line, rooted in, and inspired by, Mixed Martial Arts -- announced that it will become an official event sponsor for five UFC® events beginning with UFC® 141: LESNAR vs. OVEREEM on Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

As an official UFC event sponsor, RYU will be visible in various elements throughout UFC events, including logo displays and live announcements during bouts, along with television promotions and placement on the UFC website. RYU's presence on UFC.com will include rotating ads equating to tens of millions of impressions. In addition, RYU will have various items from its new apparel line available for purchase at UFCStore.com.

The four additional UFC events that will feature RYU in 2012 will be announced in the months ahead.

"We are excited to announce this opportunity with the UFC and are looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in 2012," commented RYU President, John Wood. "The UFC is the fastest growing sports organization in the world. This agreement gives RYU a tremendous opportunity to reach the UFC's loyal and rapidly-expanding fan base."

In the Spring 2012, RYU will debut their men's premium high performance line "Built for Athletes, Suited for Style," that embodies the art of the sport and places emphasis on respect, strength, honor and sustainability as the foundation of their apparel and products. Performance and training apparel items to be available for Mixed Martial Artists and athletes alike in 2012 include performance t-shirts (short sleeve and long sleeve), compression tops (short sleeve and long sleeve), compression shorts, fight shorts, training tops, pants and shorts, hoodies, track and wind jackets and various headwear items such as beanies and caps.

All of the RYU apparel items and products have been produced from organic and/or recycled materials utilizing some of the best yarn and fabric suppliers in the world while achieving the performance attributes desired by Mixed Martial Arts fighters and the true everyday athlete.

For more information on RYU visit [ http://www.respectyouruniverse.com ] or call +1-888-455-6183 ext. 101.

About Respect Your Universe

Respect Your Universe, Inc. (OTCBB: [ RYUN ]) is a premium performance apparel and equipment company rooted in and inspired by Mixed Martial Arts. Focused on the needs of the athlete, RYU brings innovative design, development and production of premium authentic performance gear with style to mixed martial artists and athlete enthusiasts worldwide. The RYU brand is based on respect, honor and sustainability.

About Ultimate Fighting Championship^®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC^® is the world's premier MMA organization and produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually around the globe. In 2012, FOX will broadcast four fights annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter^®, UFC's signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. UFC content is also distributed commercially to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, reaching a half a billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.

UFC^® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over six million fans on Facebook and over 400,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with more than 1.7 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.

Ancillary businesses include best-selling DVDs, a magazine, the best-selling UFC "Undisputed" videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM^®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo^® festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, and articulated action figures.

Safe Harbor Statements
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate," "plans," "hopes," "estimates," "projects" or "intends," or stating that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of sales and designs of our apparel, the MMA industry and market, the apparel industry and market, the availability of capital to fund our business plan and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, product manufacturing and sourcing, and labor. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.