Issue 095
December 2012
From his Punishment T-shirts, board shorts and caps to the sharp suits and specs of the red carpet, ‘The People’s Champ’ has a style that reflects his personality – it’s ether black or white with nothing in between
SUITS
Tito is famous for his smart suits at press conferences and public events, a tip he picked up from the Fertitta brothers early in his career regarding always looking the best you possibly can to portray a serious businessman. “I used to rock Armani and stuff but now I have a custom tailor I use named Astor & Black. I’m a big guy, so I need them to be custom made.”
WATCHES
“I have to be careful with watches because my hands are so big, so I need a big face on a watch otherwise it looks like I’m wearing a girls watch,” Tito admits. Rockwell watches have sponsored extreme sport athletes for years, including many fighters, and Tito is a big fan. “Rockwell’s watch styles are great; perfect for me.”
JEWELRY
Unlike one or two of Tito’s UFC Hall of Fame colleagues, namely Randy Couture, the former light heavyweight champ rarely wears any other jewelry. He says: “I don’t really do bracelets or rings, I kind of leave that type of stuff to Jenna (Jameson, partner). That’s not my style.”
PUNISHMENT ATHLETICS
Few MMA stars have launched their own clothing brand, and fewer still have made it into a success. Yet Tito’s Punishment Athletics brand has been in business since 1999, and he insists he’s just getting started. “If I’m not wearing a suit, I’m wearing my Punishment brand. I’m very hands-on with it, and it means a lot to me. It’s a already a big success and now I want to make it even bigger.”
DENIM
Sticking to his So Cal roots, Tito also opts for a local brand of denim. “I wear Laguna jeans, which are great.” Based just 15 miles down the coast from his home in Huntington, Laguna Beach Jean Company is also a favorite of Snoop Dogg and Britney Spears.
SHADES
Whether it’s staring down opponents, watching his fishing line in the water or running the hills in Big Bear, Tito is renowned for wearing sunglasses and admits that when it comes to protecting your eyes from the sun and looking the part there’s only one choice, “Oakley,” he says, “I always wear polarized Oakleys, and I wear them for fishing too.”
GLASSES
Despite a hugely successful 15-year career inside the Octagon, Tito often wears glasses in public and reveals that, unlike lens-less frame wearer Melvin Guillard, they’re actually prescription. “I don’t have to wear them all the time, but there are real prescription lenses in there.”
