Music promoter, public relations specialist launch Las Vegas-based business
A music industry promoter, a Las Vegas lawyer and an mixed martial arts public relations specialist are teaming up to launch a Las Vegas-based business that will book professional MMA fighters for paid appearances at local, national and global businesses and events.
Matador Entertainment LLC will be run by Tom Hoppa, chief executive, who is a former California photographer, booking agent and special events director; Tony Sgro, chief operating officer and general counsel with a law practice in downtown Las Vegas; and Jen Wenk, chief marketing officer, whose MMA public relations clients include Las Vegas-based Lion Fight Promotions, a Muay Thai fight show promotion company.
Matador Entertainment is self-funded and privately owned. The trio has invested a “significant amount of funds,” Wenk said. She declined to offer a specific dollar amount to start the business.
“Our market is made up of businesses, companies and individuals interested in booking elite as well as up-and-coming fighters for paid appearances,” she said.
“Our demographic is the millions and millions of passionate UFC, MMA, boxing and Muay Thai fans around the world. Combat sports has a global fan base and we are looking to connect our client list of athletes with their loyal fans through public appearances inside sizable venues. Matador also facilitates private bookings for private and public events.”
Wenk, former public relations director at Ultimate Fighting Championship, the Las Vegas-based MMA fight show promotion and media organization, said the trio will use its contacts in the MMA industry to line up big names for the paid appearances.
“Our most valuable resource is the trusted relationships we have built in MMA, and in particular the UFC, over the past 10 years,” she said.
About three dozen combat sport athletes have committed to make appearances.
The Matador roster includes top names such as former UFC light heavyweight champions Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and Lyoto Machida; Jean Pascal, a former WBC boxing champion; and about 30 other UFC athletes.
Matador Entertainment also represents the 20-year old MMA amateur organization, Tuff-N-Uff, for bookings of their amateur MMA events.
Typical jobs can be autograph signings at casinos, speeches for large corporate events and appearances to promote company products.
“Because of our clients appeal to numerous markets, our reach is global. UFC athletes like Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and Lyoto Machida are in high demand not only nationally, but all over the world,” Wenk said. “Matador will explore all opportunities that make sense for our clients.”
Matador will also book non-MMA personalities. For example, earlier this month, Matador booked and produced the UFC International Fight Week’s live concert, which featured Papa Roach.
Contact Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Follow @BicycleManSnel on Twitter.
