⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

MMA Entrepreneur Dies In Crash

By Dennis Romero

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

mask.jpgEntrepreneur Charles "Mask" Lewis (pictured), co-founder of mixed martial arts brand TapouT, died in a car crash early this morning in Newport Beach, California, a publicist for the clothier confirmed.

The collision happened about 12:57 a.m. when the 2004 Ferrari 360 Modena Lewis was driving apparently spun out of control and hit a light pole, according to Newport Beach police. Lewis might have been racing the driver of a 1977 Porsche, who stopped but allegedly fled. The Ferrari appeared to have been split in half. Police say they spotted 51-year-old Jeffrey David Kirby and a female passenger walking away from a white Porsche parked nearby. The man was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. A female passenger in the Ferrari was hospitalized and said to be stable. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.

A statement attributed to "the TapouT family" was issued this afternoon: "It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we must regretfully confirm the passing of our beloved friend, brother and co-founder Charles 'Mask' Lewis following a car accident that occurred last night. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available. ... Many thanks to all for the outpouring of blessings and well-wishing during this incredibly difficult time."

In 1997, TapouT's founders started the brand by selling MMA-related T-shirts out of the trunk of a car. Lewis told Entrepreneur that the TapouT founders had been fans (and sometime organizers) of MMA fighting since its outlaw days in the early 1990s. "We would know where the underground fights are," he said.

In 2001, when Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization, the brothers tapped the MMA expertise of the San Bernardino, California-based brand, and the two organizations have been connected ever since. Mask told Entrepreneur that the TapouT founders introduced star fighter Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez, among others, to the UFC.

The reality shows Ultimate Fighter and TapouT share the same producers, and TapouT is the unofficial clothing brand of UFC (although UFC peddles its own gear as well).

Lewis and his two TapouT cohorts, known as Punkass and Skyscrape, brought pro-wrestling-style showmanship to MMA and were well known for their ringside appearances at MMA bouts. Mask was rarely seen without his telltale, Kiss-like makeup. The three often said that they were "ambassadors for the sport."

Lewis said that 2008 was a banner year for the company, with revenues exceeding $50 million and a new licensing deal with Skechers expected to produce even more income from a TapouT-branded shoe out this year.

"In the world of Nike and Adidas, we're the underdog," he said. "But we're making noise."

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.