PRO-ELITE AND TAPOUT MAGAZINE JOIN FORCES
Posted on | May 17, 2007 | 2 Comments
PROELITE.COM takes on ‘tapout magazine’ and ‘MMA Worldwide’ as mixed martial arts print partnerS
Joint Partnership Brings Fans Greater Exposure to Video and
Print Content From MMA’s Leading Magazines
(LOS ANGELES) – May 17, 2007 – ProElite.com, the comprehensive and inclusive online community for MMA (mixed martial arts) fighters, fans and organizations, announced today it has entered into a joint partnership with SMP, Inc. the publishers of the popular Tapout and MMA Worldwide magazines. During the two-year term, ProElite.com will be the exclusive online social networking destination for SMP that will distribute promotional video for SMP-produced reality shows, MMA videos, photographs and editorial content from the two magazines.
The ProElite.com and SMP brands will maximize each other’s strong brand positioning in the MMA community by providing deep cross-promotional content ranging from ProElite.com ad buys in Tapout and MMA Worldwide, to SMP-paid sponsorships at ProElite.com. The two companies will collaborate to create the first truly integrated MMA media offering for fans, sponsors, and partners, including reach across multiple web sites, live event Internet streams, print publications, billboard marketing, cable and Pay-Per-View broadcasts, and live event experiential activities.
“Tapout and MMA Worldwide magazines have shaped the MMA sport through its editorial pages and ProElite.com through the Internet. By mutually expanding each other’s offerings, together we will bring an added value to fans,” said Kelly Perdew, President of ProElite.com. “The expansion of MMA in the next several years will be unprecedented and the cooperation of these brands will do its part in bringing awareness to the sport.”
“We strive to offer our readers and sponsors more than just a print outlet and the partnership with ProElite.com accomplishes that goal. Given ProElite’s growth in the sport it is only natural that we turn to them as our exclusive partner,” said Robert Pittman, President and CEO of SMP, Inc. “Without excluding any event, organization or group, ProElite.com and our magazines will be able to provide the fans with an unbiased and unmatched look into the world of MMA. Expect big things to come from this partnership.”
Since its launch in February 2007, ProElite.com has become the online touch point for MMA fans, fighters and promoters around the world. ProElite.com is the first entity to bring a variety of compelling live stream MMA events to the Internet. In addition to recently delivering a powerful two-day Pay-Per-View of the ADCC Championship in its Internet debut, ProElite.com presented a classic doubleheader of Cage Rage Championships 21: “Judgment Day” from Wembley Arena in London, England and No Limits: “Proving Grounds” from The No Limits Event Center in Irvine, California.
ProElite.com is preparing to deliver can’t-miss behind-the-scenes video surrounding FEG’s “Softbank presents Dynamite!! USA in association with ProElite” in the Los Angeles Coliseum on June 2. Later in the month, on June 22, ProElite will be bringing fans free undercard fights live on the Internet from San Jose, California.
ProElite, Inc. and its ProElite.com division are headquartered in Los Angeles. SMP, Inc. is headquartered in Cypress, California.
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About ProElite, Inc. (www.proelite.com)
ProElite Inc. (PELE:PK) delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters. ProElite’s interactive business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of mixed martial arts enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM
About SMP, Inc.
SMP (Sales and Marketing Professionals) is a sales and marketing group that specializes in multi-million dollar sales. SMP, Inc. owns the following brands and companies: SMP Printing, Tapout Magazine, MMA Worldwide Magazine and MMA Worldwide Industries.