Promoter: It's all about fighters, not profits

Rick Collup, president of Ultimate Reno Combat, which stages mixed martial arts fights in the Reno-Tahoe area, says he's not interested in making loads of money as a fight promoter. He says he's more interested in providing Truckee Meadows fighters with a local venue for MMA competitions, something he never had during his mixed martial arts career.

"I had to travel to all over Hell and back to fight," he says. "They paid you, but they didn't pay your expenses. You had to pay to fight. Now, all these local people don't have to travel or anything.

"I know it sounds dorky, but I want people to have what I didn't have," adds Collup, who also own Reno Academy Combat at 940 Matley Lane.

Ultimate Reno Combat's last fight card was held at the Knitting Factory. Initially, fights were staged at Reno-Sparks Indian Colony but quickly outgrew that venue. Fights were moved to the Reno Events Center, which proved to be slightly too large.

Collup estimates about 1,000 fans showed up to the bout at the Knitting Factory. Ultimate Reno Combat makes money through ticket sales. Tickets for the event at the Knitting Factory ranged in price from $25 to $75 for ringside seats. Collup says Ultimate Reno Combat already is in the black as area fight fans enjoy the unprecedented popularity of mixed martial arts competition.

But Collup emphasizes that he's not interested making a fortune as a fight promoter; he's content with living a simple life.

"We do better and better with each show," Collup says. "But I could care less about having a brand new car or having a huge house."

Collup says he doesn't plan on expanding the company's reach outside of the Truckee Meadows and Lake Tahoe area, either.

'I think people spread themselves way too thin sometimes," he says.

Ultimate Reno Combat doesn't pay its fighters because they are classified as amateurs. The company's main expenses come from securing a venue, and producing radio, television and print advertising to hype upcoming bouts. Ultimate Reno Combat has several sponsorships, but sponsorship dollar amounts for fight cards are small, Collup says.

"We have a lot of people sponsoring us, but it is mainly to help out the show and help them out," he says.

The promotions company expects to put on 12 fights in 2010. Upcoming fights will be held April 16 at Grand Sierra and May 1 at Montbleu on Lake Tahoe's south shore.

Fighters aren't limited to the Reno area; some have come from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and even Louisiana. Collup says he reimburses traveling fighters for expenses if they show receipts for fuel and food.

"We are strictly an amateur show right now. It is less hassle, less egos," Collup says.

Ultimate Reno Combat has enjoyed early success in part due to a large number of amateur fighters hoping to eventually turn professional.

"They need to start somewhere, and this is a good place to get a name, get a good record and hopefully work their way up into the bigger shows."