Tapout (2007)
TapouT is an American reality television series that focuses on the world of mixed martial arts. The series premiered on Versus, which is now NBC Sports Network, on June 3, 2007, before moving to its regular Wednesday night timeslot beginning June 6. The series follows "Mask", "Punkass" and "SkySkrape", of the TapouT clothing and gear line, as they travel around the country in search of promising MMA fighters to develop and possibly sponsor. Each episode follows the training and development of one fighter, culminating in a fight at a professional MMA event. As the series progressed the focus broadened to encompass not just the scouting of new talent but also the efforts of the TapouT crew to build their business, including day-to-day operations and the inter-relationships between the crew members and other TapouT employees. On March 11, 2009, Charles "Mask" Lewis was killed in an automobile accident in Newport Beach, California. A female companion was ejected from the car and taken for medical treatment but Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of a second car, believed to have been traveling alongside Lewis's car, was arrested on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Seasons & Episode
The crew travels to San Luis Obispo, California where they meet training partners Lighty and Teixeira. They decide to sponsor both fighters and take them to Palace Fighting Championship 6 in Lemoore, California. Lighty fights first. He splits open his opponent's forehead, forcing him to tap. Teixeira knocks out his opponent in just five seconds.
Dan Lauzon is the younger brother of UFC fighter Joe Lauzon. The crew recognizes his potential but realize his trainer is wrong for him. They match him up with trainer Mark DellaGrotte before taking him to fight at World Championship Fighting. UFC president Dana White makes a guest appearance. Dan submits Frank Latina with a triangle choke in the first round.
The TapouT crew checks in with an old friend named Greg McIntyre in San Diego, California who is re-entering the MMA world after having his colon removed as the result of an auto-immune disease. The crew heads to Throwdown Elite Training Facility to catch up with Greg and his trainer, UFC veteran Dean Lister. TapouT decides to sponsor Greg at the PURECOMBAT fight event in Visalia, California. Greg wins his fight against Richard Chavez by unanimous decision.
The crew return to Hawaii to scout Albert Manners, who trains with B. J. Penn. They change his nickname from "Always Bad" to "Respect" and find him a permanent apartment. Although battling a knee injury and facing "Baby mama drama," Manners overcomes his opponent by rear naked choke in the opening moments of the first round. Despite his victory, the TapouT crew express some reservations and hope that Manners will continue to mature both as a fighter and a person.
Mask, Punkass and Skyskrape scout Dodson in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There they also meet Kedzie and try to decide whether to sign her as the first-ever female TapouT fighter.
On this episode of TapouT, the guys head to Lakemoor, IL to meet up with UFC fighter Jeff Curran who has been training his cousin, Pat Curran for the past few years. Pat has just turned Pro MMA and TapouT believes he might have what it takes to go far.
The crew travels to Salt Lake City, Utah to scope out Travis Marx, an officer of the Utah Highway Patrol.
The guys travel to Ocala, Fla. and meet up with their friend Tommy Sauer and check out fighter TJ Cook.