TALE OF THE TAPE

WAR TAPE is the original branded tape. Learn about how we got our start.

Founded in 2008

Founded in 2008 by Kai and William Vittore, then later joined by Mike Rodriguez, WAR TAPE has become the industry standard in combat sports. Tested at the highest level, under the most intense conditions, we take pride in being the choice of professional athletes worldwide - “The best use the best!”

We begin work on product samples, as well as branding and logos.

Trademark applications submitted (granted in 2017).

WAR TAPE is shown on TV for the first time at WEC 36 (Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood FL) on November 5th in Faber vs. Brown match.

We begin to distribute samples in Northern California and Hawaii.

WAR TAPE starts appearing in FIGHT! Magazine.

Fighters begin using WAR TAPE in local Gladiator Challenge and WEC events.

The California State Athletic Commission approves and grandfathers in WAR TAPE for use in competition.

Amir Khan beats Marcos Maidana to retain the WBA Junior Welterweight title. For the first time, WAR TAPE is on HBO (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV)

In UFC 117 (Oracle Arena, Oakland CA), more than 3 million people watch Anderson Silva wear WAR TAPE as he wins in the 5th round with an armbar against Chael Sonnen. 

WAR TAPE has its first cover appearance in April’s issue of FIGHT! Magazine.

Mike Rodriguez joins the WAR TAPE team, and puts a plan into motion to make WAR TAPE a household name.

WAR TAPE appears for the first time in Ringside catalog, with nationwide circulation: "New Product: The Most Adhesive Tape Available."

The WAR TAPE logo is featured on:

• Shark Fights MMA fights 19 (Independence Events Center, Independence MO) and 20 (Edgewater Casino Resort, Laughlin NV) on Fuel TV.

• Jullian Williams vs. Ishe Smith (The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas NV) on Bounce TV

• UFC 139 (HP Pavilion, San Jose CA) 

• Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito II (Madison Square Garden, New York NY) on HBO’s 24/7

• UFC 141 (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV)

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, WBO World Welterweight fight (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV)

WAR TAPE appears in the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley, WBO Welterweight title fight (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV) aired on HBO. Pacquiao loses in a controversial decision, and the fight (and WAR TAPE) makes the front page of USA Today.

WAR TAPE is seen in Anderson Silva's Like Water documentary. 

Ronda Rousey wears WAR TAPE in Ronda Rousey vs. Misha Tate at the UFC 168 Bantamweight Championship (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV). Rousey wins in the 3rd round with an armbar, and subsequently auctions off the WAR TAPE she wore that night for charity.

Other WAR TAPE appearances:

• Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia, Super Lightweight title fight (Reliant Arena, Houston TX)

• David De La Mora vs. Anselmo Moreno, WBA Super World Bantamweight title bout (Don Haskins Center, El Paso, TX) 

• Brandon Rios vs. Richard Abril, WBA Lightweight title fight (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV)

• TJ Dillashaw does open workout in Sacramento CA for media while using WAR TAPE

Mikey Garcia vs. Orlando Salido (Madison Square Garden, New York NY), in which Garcia takes the WBO World Featherweight title.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios, WBO International Welterweight title fight (Cotai Arena, Macau, China).

Nonito Donaire Jr. vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux, WBO/WBA Junior Featherweight title unification (Radio City Music Hall, New York NY).

Danny Garcia vs. Zab Juddah, Unified Super Lightweight world championship title fight (Barclays Center, New York NY).

300 million people watch Zou Shimming’s professional debut in Zou Shimming vs. Elazar Valenzuela, flyweight bout (Cotai Arena, Macau, China).

Other appearances:

• Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann, UFC on Fuel TV 8 (Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan).

• Mike Alvarado vs. Brandon Rios, WBO Super Lightweight title fight (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV).

• Gabriel Rosado vs. J'Leon Love, NABF Middleweight title fight (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

• Zou Shiming vs. Jesus Ortega in Fists of Gold II flyweight bout (Cotai Arena, Macau, China).

• Marcos Maidana vs. Adrien Broner, WBA Welterweight title fight (Alamodome, San Antonio, TX).

WAR TAPE appears on the cover of the October issue of The Ring, after appearing in the May and July issues.

WAR TAPE makes its first Pay-Per-View appearance in Bellator 120 (Landers Center, Southaven MS).

Erislandy Lara vs. Saul Canelo Alvarez, super welterweight bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV), as well as Francisco Vargas vs. Juan Manuel undercard match.

Shawn Porter vs. Kell Brooks, IBF Welterweight World Championship bout (Stubhub Center, Carson CA).

Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley, WBO World Welterweight Championship title (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana, Welterweight bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena).

Shawn Porter vs. Paulie Malignaggi, IBF Welterweight bout (DC Armory, Washington D.C.).

Danny Garcia vs. Rod Salka (Unified Super Lightweight World Championship (Barclays Center, New York NY).

Luis Castillo vs. Ruslan Provodnikov, welterweight bout (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia).

Julian Williams vs. Edgar Ortega, super middleweight bout (Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton WA).

Other appearances:

• Ossie Duran vs. Caleb Truax, middleweight bout (Target Center, Minneapolis MN).

• Hugo Centeno vs. Gerardo Ibarra, middleweight fight (Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio CA).

• Miguel Cotto vs. Sergio Martinez, WBC Middleweight title bout (Madison Square Garden, New York NY).

• Just Scrap MMA fight on June 21st (Edith Kanakaole Stadium, Hilo HI). This marks the first time that WAR TAPE is mentioned on radio.

• Marcos Maidana vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr., rematch for the WBC/WBA Welterweight title (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

• Zou Shiming vs. Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, WBO flyweight bout (Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Macao, China), as well as the Pacquiao vs. Algieri undercard match.

• Diego Chaves vs. Timothy Bradley, welterweight bout (The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas NV)

• HBO’s April 1st episode of 24/7.

Keith Thurman vs. Robert Guerrero, welterweight bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV). This was the first PBC on NBC event, heralded as professional boxing’s triumphant return to broadcast prime time television. WAR TAPE was used for a majority of undercard fights this night, as well as all subsequent PBC on NBC events.

Appeared in the May issue of Sports Illustrated.

Shawn Porter vs. Eric Bone, junior welterweight bout (Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario CA).

Denis Lebedev vs. Youri Kayembre Kalenga, WBA Cruiserweight title fight (Luzhniki Arena, Moscow, Russia).

Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson, super lightweight bout (Barclays Center, New York, NY).

Danny Garcia vs. Paulie Malignaggi, welterweight bout (Barclays Center, New York NY).

Julian Williams vs. Luciano Cuello, WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title bout (Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem PA).

Nonito Donaire Jr. vs. Cesar Juarez, WBO Featherweight title bout (Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan PR).

Victor Ortiz vs. Gilberto Sanchez-Leon, welterweight bout (AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas TX).

Miguel Cotto vs. Saul Canelo Alvarez, WBC middleweight bout (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV). Subsequently named by The Ring as their Fight of the Year for 2015.

Other appearances:

• Dusty Hernandez-Harrison vs. Tommy Rainone, WBC Continental Americas Welterweight title fight (Madison Square Garden, New York NY).

• Brandon Adams vs. Alex Perez, middleweight bout, Boxcino Tournament (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville CT), as well as fighters in several other bouts.

• Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Juan Hernandez, featherweight bout (Belasco Theater, Los Angeles CA).

• Terence Crawford vs. Thomas Dulorme, WBO Lightweight title fight (University of Texas, Arlington TX)

• Leo Santa vs. Jose Cayetano, featherweight bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV). Was the undercard for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout held on May 2.

• Isiah Thomas vs. Jordan Shimmel, cruiserweight bout (Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, NV).

• Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares, featherweight bout (Staples Center, Los Angeles CA).

• Viktor Postol vs. Lucas Matthysse, WBC Junior Welterweight title bout (StubHub Center, Carson CA).

• Gerald Washington vs. Amir Mansour, heavyweight bout (Little Creek Casino, Shelton, Washington).

• Edwin Rodriguez vs. Michael Seals, light heavyweight bout (Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi MS).

• Jermall Charlo vs. Wilky Campfort, super welterweight bout (Bomb Factory, Dallas TX).

UFC 198 (Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil): Stipe Miocic became a new Heavyweight Champion with a 1-punch KO on Fabricio Werdom. Miocic has been a long-time user of WAR TAPE.

First appearance of WBCxWAR TAPE, Maricela Cornejo vs. Eliza Olson (LA Fight Club,  Belasco Theatre, Los Angeles CA).

WAR TAPE became the official hand wrap for all Bellator events in late 2016, a relationship that continues to this day.

Mike Rodriguez named "Cutman of the Year" for the second straight year.

Danny Garcia vs. Robert Guerrero, WBC Welterweight Championship bout (Staples Center, Los Angeles CA).

Jamal James vs. Javier Molina, welterweight bout (Club Nokia, Los Angeles CA).

Julian Williams vs. Marcello Matano, super welterweight bout (Bethlehem Event Center, Bethlehem PA).

Oscar Rafael Valdez Fierro Jr. vs. Evgeny Gradovich, vacant WBO NABO featherweight title bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

Gary Russell Jr. vs. Patrick Hyland, WBC Featherweight World title bout (Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket CT).

Devin Haney vs. Rafael Vazquez, lightweight bout (Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, Las Vegas NV).

Jermell Charlo vs. John Jackson, WBC Junior Middleweight title bout (The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas NV). 

Brandon Figueroa vs. Jonell Nieves, super bantamweight bout

Miguel Vazquez vs. Erick Bone, super lightweight bout (Cowboys Dancehall, San Antonio TX).

Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido, WBC super Featherweight title bout (StubHub Center, Carson CA). ESPN's and the WBC’s Fight of the Year.

John Molina Jr. vs. Ruslan Provodnikov, WBO light welterweight bout (Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona NY).

Jamal James vs. Yordenis Ugas, welterweight bout (Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona NY).

Jessie Magdaleno Vs. Nonito Donaire Jr., Featherweight World title fight (Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas NV).

Jermall Charlo vs. Julian Williams, IBF World Jr. Middleweight bout (Galen Center, USC, Los Angeles CA).

Oscar Rafael Valdez Fierro Jr. wins ESPN's Mexican Fighter of the Year, and is prominently featured by the channel wearing WAR TAPE.

Other appearances:

• Bellator 153 (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville CT).

• Tuff-N-Uff MMA (Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, NV) - WAR TAPE was the official tape used for the event.

• Vicelands World of Sports, "Boys of Bukom" - Opening shot features WAR TAPE handwraps.

• Petr Pertrov vs. Maruin Quintero, NABF/NABA Lightweight title bout (Toshiba Plaza, Las Vegas NV).

• Tonya Evinger vs. Colleen Schneider, bantamweight bout, Invicta FC 17 (The Hangar at OC Fair and Event Center, Costa Mesa CA).

• Erickson Lubin vs. Jose De Jesus Macias, junior middleweight bout (Seminole Casino Hotel, Immokalee FL).

• Frankie Gomez vs. Mauricio Herrera, light welterweight bout (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV).

• WBC’s Green Belt Challenge. WAR TAPE was a sponsor of this youth boxing event at Star Center, Whittier CA.

• Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola, WBC heavyweight bout (Legacy Arena, Birmingham AL).

• Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol, WBC WBO Junior Welterweight Unification title bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

• David Benavidez vs. Denis Douglin, super middleweight bout (2300 Arena, Philadelphia PA).

• Javier Fortuna vs. Omar Douglas, lightweight bout (Liacouras Center, Philadelphia PA).

• Terrell Gausha vs. Steven Martinez, super welterweight bout (Honda Center, Anaheim CA).

• Danny Valdivia vs. Gilberto Pereira dos Santos, junior middleweight bout (Tachi Palace Casino Resort, Lemoore CA).

• Bellator 161, (H-E-B Center, Austin TX).

Willie Monroe Jr. vs. Gabriel Rosado, middleweight bout (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX).

WAR TAPE trademark is approved on March 21, 2017

Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton, WBA featherweight bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV). Also: Mikey Garcia vs. Dejan Zlaticanin - Garcia became the new WBC Lightweight World Champion.

Danny Garcia vs. Keith Thurman, Welterweight Title Unification bout (Barclays Center, New York NY).

Kell Brook vs. Errol Spence Jr., IBF Welterweight Championship bout (Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England).

Mikey Garcia vs. Adrein Broner, Super Lightweight Diamond Belt bout (Barclays Center, New York NY).

Jermell Charlo vs. Erickson Lubin, WBC Super Welterweight title bout (Barclays Center, New York NY).

Jose Carlos Ramirez, WBC Continental Americas Champion, is officially the first champion to wrap up in WBCxWAR TAPE.

Other appearances:

• Terrell Gausha vs. Luis Hernandez, super Welterweight bout (Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio).

• UFC Countdown for UFC 211 - WAR TAPE makes an appearance in several notable shots.

• Netflix releases boxing documentary CounterPunch, which features great shots of WAR TAPE throughout the film.

• Miguel Roman vs. Orlando Salido, super featherweight bout (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV).

• Egis Kavaliauskas vs. Mahonry Montes, NABF welterweight bout (Tucson Arena, Tucson AZ).

Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter, WBC title bout (Barclays Center, New York NY).

Jorge Linares vs. Vasyl Lomachenko, WBA Lightweight Championship bout (Madison Square Garden, New York NY). ESPN won the night for combat sports with the Linares vs. Lomachenko fight. Not only did the main event draw a 1.0 Nielsen metered market rating, making it cable television’s highest-rated fight of 2018, but the entire episode of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN was the network’s highest-rated Top Rank telecast of the year.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Lamont Peterson, IBF Welterweight World Championship bout (Barclays Center, New York NY)

Danny Garcia vs. Brandon Rios, Welterweight bout (Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas NV).

Ryan Garcia vs. Fernando Vargas, NABF Super Featherweight Championship bout (Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, CA).

Devin Haney vs. Mason Menard, lightweight bout (2300 Arena, Philadelphia, PA).

Jermell Charlo vs. Austin Trout, WBC Welterweight Championship bout (Staples Center, Los Angeles CA).

Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse, WBA Welterweight bout (Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Other appearances:

• Guadalupe Lupita Martinez vs. Irma Garcia, WBC Female World Super Flyweight Championship bout (Centro de Convenciones de Tlalnepantla, Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico).

• Jermall Charlo vs. Hugo Centeno Jr., WBC middleweight bout (Barclays Center, New York NY).

• Claressa Shields vs. Hanna Gabriels, IBF & WBA Middleweight Championship bout (Masonic Temple, Detroit MI).

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua, WBA, IBF, WBO, & IBO Heavyweight title bout (Madison Square Garden, New York NY). After being as much as a 25-1 underdog, Ruiz Jr. defeated Anthony Josh and became the new champion.

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Daniel Jacobs, IBF Middleweight Championship bout (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV). The fight accrued more than 1.2 million views.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter, Welterweight Championship (Staples Center, Los Angeles CA).

Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donanire Jr., bantamweight bout (Saitama Super Arena. Tokyo, Japan). Inoue wins the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.

One Night: Joshua vs Ruiz - WAR TAPE appears in documentary, a joint production of DAZN and Sylvester Stallone's Balboa Productions

Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner, WBA welterweight bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

Julian Williams vs. Jarrett Hurd, IBF and WBA Jr. Middleweight title bout (EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, VA). Fight of the Year candidate.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Alberto Guevara. NABO Featherweight Title bout (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ).

Jose Ramirez vs. Maurice Hooker, WBO Jr. Welterweight Championship bout (College Park Center, Arlington, TX).

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev, WBO Light Heavyweight Championship (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV).

UFC Countdown for UFC 235 - Jon Jones is seen wrapped in WAR TAPE as he defends his Light Heavyweight belt against Anthony Smith.

Other appearances:

• Claressa Shields vs. Christina Hammer, Middleweight Championship (Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City NJ). Billed as the biggest fight in the history of women's boxing.

• Jermall Charlo vs. Dennis Hogan, WBC middleweight bout (Barclays Center, New York, NY).

• Cutman Nagasue "Nick" Takayuki has been holding down WARTAPE in Japan for over a year as of 2019.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Danny Garcia, Unified Welterweight World Championship bout (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX).

Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario, WBC, WBA, IBF World Super Welterweight Championship bout (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT).

Jeison Rosario vs. Julian Williams, IBF/WBA Light Middleweight title bout (Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA).

Joshua Franco vs. Andrew Moloney, WBA Super Flyweight World title bout, (MGM Grand Garden Arena).

Elvis Rodriguez vs. Danny Murray Jr., welterweight bout, (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV).

Teofimo Lopez Jr. vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko, Lightweight World title bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith, WBA & WBC Super Middleweight Championship bout (Alamodome, San Antonio, TX).

Other appearances:

• Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook, WBO World Welterweight Championship bout ("The Bubble," MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

• Ryan Garcia vs. Francisco Fonseca, WBC Lightweight Championship (Honda Center, Anaheim, CA)

• Brandun Lee vs. Samuel Teah, Super Lightweight title bout (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT).

• Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Kouzi, Kickboxing Rizin 24 (Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo, Japan).

Jose Ramirez vs. Josh Taylor, WBC/WBO/IBF/WBA Unified Jr. Welterweight World title bout (Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV).

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant, IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO Unified Super Middleweight World Championship bout (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

George Kambosos vs. Teofimo Lopez, IBF/WBA/WBO World Lightweight Championship (Hulu Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York NY).

Stephen Fulton Jr. vs. Angelo Leo, WBO Jr. Welterweight Championship bout (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville CT).

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Auni Yildirim, WBA & WBC Super Middleweight bout (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL).

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders, WBA & WBC Super Middleweight bout (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX).

Devin Haney vs. Joseph Diaz Jr., WBC Lightweight Championship (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas NV).

Anderson Silva vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., "Tribute to Kings," light heavyweight bout (Jalisco Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico).

Other appearances:

• The legendary Oscar De La Hoya holds an open workout at Xbox Plaza in Los Angeles for his fight against UFC superstar Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 at the Staples Center.

Mark Magsayo vs. Gary Russell Jr., WBC Featherweight World Championship (Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City, NJ).

Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios, WBC welterweight bout (Michelob Ultra Arena, Los Angeles, CA)