Mark Munoz, Anthony Pettis and Krzysztof Soszynski Sign with XYIENCE through 2012

May 3, 2011 - PRLog -- XYIENCE has signed mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes Mark Munoz, Anthony Pettis and Krzysztof Soszynski who fight in the UFC’s middleweight, lightweight and light heavyweight divisions, respectively. These MMA fighters will be a part of Team XYIENCE through 2012, specifically endorsing XYIENCE’s energy brand Xenergy, the official energy drink of the UFC.  

As a part the deal, the fighters will appear in XYIENCE advertising, have a presence on the brand’s website and make appearances at both trade and consumer events. “All three fighters are role models for young athletes and their continued pursuit of excellence, both on and off the mat, is exactly what our brand supports,” says Jessica Hughes, who oversees XYIENCE’s brand ambassador program. “We’re thrilled to have Mark, Anthony and Krzysztof join the XYIENCE family.”

Munoz (10-2) is an acclaimed collegiate wrestler and former NCAA Division 1 National Champion whose skills have earned him the reputation as one of the top wrestlers in MMA. The Oklahoma State University (OSU) alumnus is also a two-time All-American, two-time Big-12 Conference Champion, and in 1998 he won a silver medal in the Junior World Championships. Munoz, who is fresh off two wins, is slated to face Demian Maia at UFC 131 in Vancouver on June 11.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, while earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Science at OSU, Munoz was a two-time Academic All American, three-time Dean's List Honoree, and four-time Academic All Big-12. The 33-year-old is currently working towards a master’s degree in Kinesiology/Sports Performance. He recently opened an MMA training facility, Reign Training Center, in Lake Forest, Calif., where he resides with his wife and their four children.

Pettis (13-1) started his martial arts career at the early age of 5 years old. The now 24-year-old third-degree black belt in taekwondo captured the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Lightweight world title in December 2010. Since the UFC and WEC merged in late 2010, he was actually the final fighter to hold the league’s title. Pettis is slated to fight Clay Guida on June 4, 2011 at the Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale in Las Vegas.

In addition to his WEC title, Pettis has earned accolades including 2010 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year by Sherdog, an MMA news source, and WEC bonuses for Knockout of the Night, Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night. Pettis quickly gained a huge fan following for his pizzazz both inside and outside of the Octagon, earning him the nickname “Showtime.” During his 2010 WEC title fight, Pettis performed a unique move and coined the "Showtime Kick" by using the cage as a lateral springboard to launch a roundhouse kick to his opponent's face in the final minute of the fight. That moment was recognized by ESPN as a 2010 Top 10 Highlight Reel. It was also featured on CNN and has been viewed over two million times on YouTube.

Pettis resides and trains in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wis.

“XYIENCE has been a major part of the MMA’s growth, and has also been very committed to their team of athletes,” says Munoz. “It’s that mindset that will enable MMA athletes and the entire industry to rise to new levels.” His new teammate Pettis adds, “XYIENCE’s belief in long-term relationships with athletes is exactly the kind of support that it takes for an athlete to realize his full potential. Both Mark and I are honored to join a legend like Wanderlei Silva and to be a part of the XYIENCE team.”

Soszynski (21-11-1) was born in Poland and relocated to Western Canada with his family at the age of 10. The now 33-year-old, who fights in the UFC’s light heavyweight division and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, got started in MMA after a stint as a professional wrestler. In 2008, he appeared on Spike TV’s reality program The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 8 and then made his debut in the UFC by defeating Shame Primm at TUF 8 in December 2008. His successful UFC career also includes defeating top MMA fighters like Stephan Bonnar and Brian Stann.

Soszynksi currently resides in Southern Calif. with his wife and their young son and trains at Team Quest. Along with XYIENCE teammate Munoz, Soszynski is slated at UFC 131, where he faces Anthony Persoh.  

“This is really a natural fit for me, I knew very quickly upon meeting the XYIENCE staff that I wanted to represent the brand,” says Soszynki. “They share my passion for MMA, and of course it’s a huge honor to stand alongside such incredible athletes like Wanderlei and Jon Jones.”  

About XYIENCE (pronounced zy-ince)
Headquartered in Las Vegas, XYIENCE products support an active and healthy lifestyle and are held to the most stringent standards of excellence. Visit www.xyience.com for details.

Xenergy (pronounced zen-ergy)
Xenergy is the official energy drink of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is one of the fastest growing brands in its category. The first energy drink created by a nutrition company, Xenergy is a sugar- and calorie-free drink that’s fortified with vitamins. All-natural flavors provide a consistent supply of energy, without the “crash” inherent in most other energy drink brands.  Xenergy Premium flavors include Cherry Lime, Cran Razz, Mango Guava and Blu Pom.  Xenergy Xtreme flavors include Fruit Punch, Orange Fuel, Citrus Slam, and Cherry Rush.  Xenergy is available throughout the United States and Canada.

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XYIENCE is the official energy drink of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Xenergy, is one of the fastest-growing in its category. XYIENCE also produces supplements that provide ultimate nutrition for peak performance.