Stauffacher Joined the Boutique Fitness Franchise in 2011

Drew Stauffacher takes the helm as president of the 9Round Kickboxing Fitness franchise after joining the brand in 2011 as a trainer. Prior to his promotion, Stauffacher led the creation of 9RoundNOW, a digital training platform that continues to be a major value-add for members and entrepreneurs. Stauffacher also has owned multiple locations of the boutique fitness franchise and now leverages his extensive experience with the Greenville, S.C.-based kickboxing brand to strengthen franchise support and foster innovation.

“Taking on this role feels like the culmination of my journey in the fitness industry and with 9Round,” said Stauffacher, who began training in martial arts at age 7. “What excites me most is the dynamic nature of the leadership opportunities this position brings. I get to collaborate daily with our incredible home office team while still traveling across the country to connect directly with our franchise partners and their communities. There’s tremendous value in seeing how our 9Round model functions in different markets. It helps us continuously refine and adapt the product to serve the general population better, all while staying true to our core experience.”

He cited convenience as a major part of that core experience. “We’re evolving by introducing studio access 365 days a year, including 24/7 access in some locations. Our no-class-times model remains, but now members can choose whether to work out with a trainer or use our Daily Workout Screen technology for guidance.”

Stauffacher said his goal is to have more than 100 9Round locations operating in this new model by the end of 2025. “It’s a big, exciting challenge, and one that aligns with where the industry is going and what our members are asking for. It’s about giving people the flexibility they want while keeping the heart of what makes 9Round so effective and engaging.”

Support from Striking Brands 

He said 9Round’s parent company, Striking Brands, will play a major role in the kickboxing franchise’s growth moving forward. “As part of the umbrella of Striking Brands, we move into this new world with a new perspective. It’s been great to get to know another brand, iLoveKickboxing, and learn from its successes.”

Shannon Hudson, founder and CEO of Striking Brands, said 9Round franchisees are in great hands under Stauffacher’s leadership. “Beyond his extensive knowledge of the company and his experience as a franchisee, Drew brings a different voice and a fresh approach that will continue elevating the brand to its fullest potential while taking exceptional care of our franchisees and members. His leadership at 9Round will give me time to nurture other branches of our business,” Hudson said. One of those branches is the newly developed equipment division, which provides boxing, kickboxing and martial arts equipment and apparel to independently owned studios and schools.

Outside of the office, Stauffacher enjoys going on hikes with his wife and their dog in South Carolina, where they live.

About 9Round Kickboxing  

Founded in 2008 by professional kickboxer Hudson and his wife, Heather, 9Round offers kickboxing fitness training in a 30-minute, trainer-guided, full-body circuit format. The program is developed around a proprietary and copyrighted system of nine challenging workout stations. The boutique fitness brand has expanded to 350-plus locations throughout the U.S., Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

Full admission: I’ve never been that into wearable tech.

The idea of having a piece of metal strapped to your wrist, constantly beeping, reminding you to breathe, or to respond to your missed calls, seemed rather unnecessary and somewhat annoying.

But, after hearing countless friends rave about how their smartwatches changed their lifestyle for the better, I caved and decided to test out the Apple Watch Series 10 myself.

Between chugging out shopping articles and chasing around a two-year-old, I try to carve out a bit of time for myself, but it’s not easy. I could definitely use a little nudge to get going from time to time. So, why not give the little smart device a shot? I’m not the only person curious about the smartwatch trend. The Series 10 is a consistent #1 bestseller on Amazon. Besides, if you wait for the perfect opportunity (like today, for example), you could snag it on sale for up to 20% off.

The Series 10 is kind of a jack of all trades; it tracks all sorts of health markers, from heart rate to wrist temperature, sleep duration, and even period cycle tracking. It also comes with a few unique features tailored to different goals, like a Tides app for surfers and Headspace for mindfulness. Plus, it even syncs up with Strava for runners, making it a great race-training device. For me, the simple activity ring was enough to encourage me to meet my movement goals for the day. It’s easy to lose track of your daily goals, but the Series 10 makes it a little bit addictive to get them done.

You can use it for fitness-tracking alone, but it’s also stacked with numerous smart features and can be treated as an extension of your iPhone if you appreciate staying connected. You can receive texts and calls right from your wrist, especially useful if you’re the type to stay away from your phone from time to time. Not to mention, the upgraded Series 10 offers a 30% larger screen, so squinting isn’t necessary. I stare at screens all day, and this is one that doesn’t bother me. The whole device is also substantially slimmer and lighter than I imagined, at just 36.4 grams. It’s easy to forget you’re wearing it at all.

It took me a bit of time to sync it up to my phone (an update was necessary), but navigating the Apple Watch interface and customizing the layout was a breeze, and I don’t consider myself tech-savvy by any means. Since I’ve started wearing it, I’ve felt encouraged to stand up more, get in those final steps to hit my goals, and skip the binge-watching for a little extra sleep. Not to be dramatic, but it’s totally transformed my life for the better, and for just $329 — it could yours too.

For a watch that can do everything from monitoring your heart rate and sleep cycles to tracking your steps and encouraging mindfulness, it feels like a true deal. I’d argue that it’s a phenomenal investment for anyone looking to optimize their wellness routine, especially if you consider yourself a bit of a data nerd and like to see your health metrics and progress over time.

Flash-forward to today, and my only regret is that I didn’t join the cult-favorite fitness tracker sooner.

This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to home gym elliptical machines to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable one-year old daughter by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.

New York, NY, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited (NYSE American: MMA) (“MMA” or the “Company”), announced today the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 6,578,948 ordinary shares (or pre-funded warrants to purchase ordinary shares in lieu thereof) at a public offering price of $0.76 per share (the “Offering”). The aggregate gross proceeds to MMA from the Offering were approximately $5.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by MMA.

MMA intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for product development, marketing and advertising expenses, scaling up its sales efforts, and for general working capital and corporate purposes.

WestPark Capital, Inc. acted as the Sole Book-Runner in connection with the Offering.

The securities described above were offered pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-287694), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 12, 2025. The Offering was made only by means of a written prospectus that forms a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus relating to the Offering has been filed with the SEC. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from WestPark Capital, Inc., 1800 Century Park East, Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90077, tel: 310-203-2919, e-mail: jstern@wpcapital.com and are also available on the SEC’s website.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited

MMA.INC (Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited) is revolutionizing the combat sports industry by driving participation and engagement across fans, athletes, coaches, and gym owners. The company operates four core business units:

• TrainAlta: A platform that transforms MMA fans into active participants through structured training programs.
• Hype: A marketing platform helping gym owners, coaches, and athletes grow revenue from their audiences.
• MixedMartialArts.com: The go-to resource for MMA news, fighter data, fight schedules, and the legendary Underground forum.
• BJJLink: A leading gym management platform designed for BJJ academies, offering tools for payment processing, marketing, student engagement, and content monetization.

With over 5 million social media followers, 530,000 user profiles, 50,000 active students, 18,000 published gyms and 800 verified gyms across 16 countries, MMA.inc continues to transform the martial arts landscape and deliver unparalleled value to its stakeholders.

For more information, visit www.mma.inc or follow us on social media:

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may include forward-looking statements. Any statements contained herein regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein include or may include, but are not limited to, statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or use or contain words, terms, phrases, or expressions such as “achieve,” “forecast,” “plan,” “propose,” “strategy,” “envision,” “hope,” “will,” “continue,” “potential,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” or similar words, terms, phrases, or expressions or the negative of any of these terms. Any statements contained in this press release that are not based upon historical fact are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, opinions and/or beliefs of the Company. Such statements are not facts and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Prospective investors should not rely on these statements as if they were facts. Actual revenue may vary to current sales due to factors such as participant churn, cancellations, and changes in payment schedules, membership terms or pricing changes. Any references to verified gyms, partner gyms, user profiles refer to a profile that has been claimed or created across the MMA.inc platform, which includes TrainAlta.com, BJJ Link, Hype, MixedMartialArts.com and Steppen. Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC and in the prospectus for the Offering. Given the risks and uncertainties, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should recognize that the statements are predictions of future results which may not occur as anticipated. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such factors on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should carefully read the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC and in the prospectus for the Offering to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and industry, and any underlying forward-looking statements. Except where required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update, withdraw or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements.

Media Contacts

Mixed Martial Arts Group Limited
E: peter@mma.inc

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? 

Amazon Prime Day takes place from July 8 through July 11 this year. This is when the retailer cuts deals on thousands of products, mostly ones it owns (think Kindle, Ring, and Alexa). To get in on the deals hype, other brands will discount their products during Prime Day to boost overall sales. 

Are health trackers really cheaper on Prime Day? 

I’ve seen some sweet discounts on health trackers during my time as an editor covering these events. We’ve seen record savings on tech, including Apple Watches and Oura Rings. 

How did we choose these Prime Day deals?

I cover health wearables for my job, and I’m particular about the products I like and don’t like. If something isn’t worth my while, I’m not writing about it. The same goes for these deals. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. 

Xponential Fitness, Inc., global franchisor of boutique health and wellness brands, announced that Lily Yang has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors effective June 16, 2025. Yang will also serve as chair of the Audit Committee.

Mark Grabowski, chairman of the Board of Xponential, said, “We are excited to welcome Lily to Xponential’s Board of Directors. Lily has extensive leadership experience in senior finance and accounting positions at companies in technology, healthcare and other high-growth industries. Notably, she played an integral role in taking Pinterest public while serving as chief accounting officer during its 2019 IPO and now holds the position of chief financial officer at Strava. We are confident that her deep financial expertise and strategic insight will be of significant value to the Board as we continue to advance Xponential’s strategic initiatives.”

Yang said, “It is a privilege to join the Board of Xponential, and I look forward to working alongside my fellow directors to support the company’s continued success. I was especially drawn to Xponential’s franchisee first focus and mission to bring the talents, assets, and capabilities that franchise brands need to grow successfully. I am eager to contribute a different perspective to the Board as we oversee the company’s strategic initiatives and growth strategy.”

Yang has nearly 30 years of experience working in diverse organizations across technology, healthcare and other high-growth industries. Yang has also served as VP of Finance and Accounting at Medivation, prior to Pinterest and Strava, responsible for driving strategic growth and expansion before the company was acquired by Pfizer. Yang also worked at Gilead Sciences, where she finished her tenure as VP and Corporate Controller.

Yang holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Managerial Information Systems from Boston University and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Images courtesy Xponential Fitness, Lily Yang

Aims to Create Hong Kong’s Largest Smart Care Home

HONG KONG, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the Board of Directors of Pok Oi Hospital (Pok Oi) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to collaborate on exploring innovative technologies development for the Pok Oi Hospital Tuen Mun Lam Tei Nursing and Residential Care Home for the Elderly Project (Lam Tei Project). The facility, scheduled for completion in 2027, is envisioned to become Hong Kong’s largest “smart care home”, delivering enhanced efficiency and quality in elderly care services.

The MoU Signing Ceremony was officiated by Mr Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government and Mr Edward To, Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government.

“One of the key strategies outlined in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint is to accelerate the transformation of research and development outcomes into practical applications, thereby promoting the smart city development and enhancing quality of life,” said Mr Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government.

“The collaboration between ASTRI and Pok Oi on the Lam Tei Project perfectly embodies this vision, marking the beginning of a new era of ‘smart elderly care’ in Hong Kong by leveraging innovation and technology (I&T) to enhance comprehensive elderly home services,” Mr Lee added. “We look forward to seeing more innovative technologies integrated into daily life, benefiting industries and society as a whole.”

Mr Edward To, Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government, said, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Pok Oi Hospital for its unwavering support of Government’s elderly care policy over the years. Striving for excellence, Pok Oi Hospital has been sparing no effort in enhancing the service standards of residential care homes for the elderly. The Lam Tei Project not only symbolises an expansion in elderly care facilities, but also scales new heights in the application of I&T to enhance the quality of care. I hope the Project will inspire the sector to develop service model better tailored to the needs of the elderly, thereby benefitting more elders in the community.”

Tailored-made advanced elderly care solutions

The MoU was signed by Ir Chris Chong, Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer of ASTRI and Ms Kelly Huang, Chairman of the Pok Oi Hospital Board of Directors, witnessed by officiating guests, Mr Ivan Lee and Mr Edward To, alongside Ir Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI and Mr Herman Lee, Permanent Advisor of the Pok Oi Hospital Board of Directors.

The partnership will encompass research into various I&T applications for the Lam Tei Project, including generative artificial intelligence, robotics technology and the Internet of Things, aim at developing pioneering elderly care services to enhance residents’ experience. Building energy management technology will also be considered to improve energy efficiency.

Ir Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI, emphasised the institute’s commitment to enhance quality of life through technologies. “With our robust capabilities and extensive experience in innovative research and development, we have secured over 1,100 patents and completed more than 1,500 technology transfer to industry,” he said.

“By integrating advanced technologies such as AI-driven healthcare solutions and centralised smart sensing platforms, we will provide bespoke elderly care solutions to fully support Pok Oi Hospital in establishing a high-performing, sustainable, and socially responsible smart residential care home for the elderly, whilst driving service innovation and improving the well-being of senior citizens,” he added.

Ms Kelly Huang, Chairman of Pok Oi Hospital Board of Directors noted the Project’s significance as Hong Kong’s largest residential care home for the elderly operated by a single organisation. “With over 1,400 residential places, the Lam Tei Project represents a new venture requiring holistic planning on facilities management, resource allocation and staffing arrangements to uphold the reputation of Pok Oi’s professional and high-quality service.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with ASTRI to explore intelligent technology solutions that helps us to formulate future operational strategies at an early stage. The integration of I&T will also enhance operational efficiency whilst enabling frontline staff to focus more on our elderly residents, putting Pok Oi’s people-oriented mission into practice.” Ms Huang added.

Both parties expect to leverage Lam Tei as their flagship project, continuously expanding the “future elderly care” service model to become an industry benchmark and elevate Hong Kong’s elderly care services through I&T.

Photos Download: http://bit.ly/4l2Eesi

(Back row, left to right) Ir Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI; Mr Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Mr Edward To, Director of Social Welfare; and Mr Herman Lee, Permanent Adviser to the Pok Oi Hospital Board of Directors, witnessing the MoU signing by Ir Chris Chong, Acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer of ASTRI (front row, left) and Ms Kelly Huang, Chairman of the Pok Oi Hospital Board of Directors (front row, right). The partnership launches research into innovation and technology applications for Pok Oi’s Lam Tei Project, aims at establishing Hong Kong’s largest “smart residential care home for the elderly”

About ASTRI

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions: Advanced Electronic Components and Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies; Communications Technologies; Intelligent Perception and Control Technologies, and IoT Sensing and AI Technologies. It is applied across six core areas which are Smart City, Financial Technologies, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, Application Specific Integrated Circuits and Metaverse.

Over the years, ASTRI has nurtured a pool of research, I&T talents and received numerous international awards for its pioneering innovations as well as outstanding business and community contributions. ASTRI has transferred more than 1,500 technologies to the industry and has been granted over 1,100 patents in the Mainland, the United States, and other countries. For further information, please visit www.astri.org.

About Pok Oi Hospital

Pok Oi Hospital was founded in 1919 and has always adhered to the mission of “We Love, We Care, We Serve”. Today, Pok Oi has developed into a sizable charitable institution with 123 service units across Hong Kong. Its service scope includes Western and traditional Chinese medicine, dental services, elderly care, youth and family services, educational services and transitional housing services, reaching various levels of society and providing essential services to millions of beneficiaries every year. For further information, please visit Pok Oi Hospital website: https://pokoi.org.hk/.