Red Sox star to endorse MMA brand

03 February 2012 | Posted in Personal Endorsement, Baseball, Martial Arts, North America | By James Emmett

MMA clothing brand Respect Your Universe (RYU) has signed Boston Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald as an endorser.

The baseball player joins the likes of UFC welterweight fighter Jon Fitch as an ambassador of RYU's performance sportswear brand.

McDonald will endorse the brand's apparel off-field only and was selected due to his incorporation of Mixed Martial Arts into his training regime.

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“Their concept of an internal warrior is exactly in-sync with my own personal beliefs of what an athlete should be," McDonald said on signing the deal.

"Darnell's incorporation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into his workout regimen allows him to speak to the Mixed Martial Arts inspired athlete and to the value of MMA training in all major athletic sports," said RYU president John Wood.

"Through Darnell's continued pursuit of respect, honour and strength he has been able to achieve the highest levels of professional athletics."