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Trailer for Bobby Razak’s new documentary on the late TapouT visionary Charles “Mask” Lewis.

From the press release:

Acclaimed director and founder of TapouT Films, Bobby Razak is currently working to complete his latest film documentary, tentatively titled “Mask”, covering the life and passion of long-time personal friend and TapouT creator, Charles “Mask” Lewis. StreetMade, a media and apparel brand, teams up with Razak to co-produce the film in hopes to continue and expand upon the values and ideals for which Lewis was known.

“As fans of the sport of MMA, we thought this would be a great project to get involved with,” says Shane Teater, StreetMade founder. Mask built a great empire and helped a fringe sport grow exponentially in popularity, while sticking to who he really was. We see StreetMade in a similar way; we stand for something, like our motto says “Just Out Work ‘Em.”

From the land of the bizarre comes word from TMZ that TapouT co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis’ sister Carla is suing Punkass and Skyskrape for allegedly stealing Mask’s cremated ashes and distributing them in small vials to “special people” at Lewis’ memorial service.

As the story goes, Carla had executive power over Lewis’ body and chose to have him cremated. Punkass and Skyskrape then asked to borrow the urn containing his ashes for the memorial service. She agreed, but demanded they return the ashes immediately following the service. I’ll let TMZ tell the creepy part.

Here’s where things get CRAZY – Carla says when she arrived to the memorial service, she noticed “various booths and tables” set up around the cathedral … one of which contained, “a large shoebox-size box containing several miniature vials that were on display.”

Carla says the vendor informed her, “each of the vials contained a small amount of the cremated remains of Mask, and were reserved for, and to be given to, ‘special people’ whose names were on a printed list.”

Carla believes somewhere between 50 to 100 vials were either “sold, given away, donated or otherwise distributed to several unknown persons.”

If that wasn’t enough, Carla claims that TapouT refuses to return the remaining ashes despite repeated requests. As such, she’s suing them for unspecified damages, claiming the situation has caused her “overwhelming and and severe emotional distress.”

Neither TapouT, Punkass or Skyskrape have given their side of the story yet, but it’s probably in their best interest to do so ASAP, because Carla’s version is quite disturbing.

On a completely unrelated note, TMZ also has an update on the Matt Hughes bar fight story. They’re hearing from Illinois State’s attorney that there was not enough evidence to prove Hughes committed battery and will not be charged in the incident. He got out of that one much easier than Maiquel Falcão who was just dropped from the UFC over legal issues stemming from his involvement in a bar fight that took place back in 2002, years before the UFC ever blew up.

Update: Skyskrape and Punkass have responded via Twitter:

Update II: Fighters Only has collected TapouT’s side of the story. Basically, the TapouT crew feels like they were much closer to Mask than he was to his sister in the past 10 years. In fact, Skyskrape claims Mask “couldn’t stand her.” They deny that they ever sold any of Mask’s ashes or mass distributed them, but did admit that they put a small amount in vials for themselves. They are returning the remaining ashes, but it remains to be seen if the sister will continue to pursue financial compensation for the ordeal.

In remembrance of Charles “Mask” Lewis’ untimely death two years ago, Bobby Razak produced this tribute video featuring an emotional Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone describing how Mask impacted his life and career.

If you’re wondering how TapouT has been doing without Mask, I suggest you read this interview BE’s Jonathon Snowden did with Authentic Brands Group CEO Jamie Salter. There is a lot of interesting stuff in it.

It only took a week for a jury to find Jeffrey David Kirby guilty of vehicular manslaughter in the high-speed accident that killed Charles “Mask” Lewis. Kirby faces a maximum of 13 years in state prison.

Full press release below.

December 8, 2010

SECOND-TIME DRUNKEN DRIVER CONVICTED OF KILLING ANOTHER MOTORIST BY SPLITTING VICTIM’S VEHICLE IN HALF IN HIGH SPEED CRASH

SANTA ANA – A second-time drunken was convicted today of killing a man and injuring his passenger after crashing his Porsche into the victim’s Ferrari, causing it to slam into a light pole and spilt in half. Jeffrey David Kirby, 53, Costa Mesa, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury was found true. He has a prior conviction for driving under the influence in 2002. Kirby faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in state prison at his sentencing Feb. 4, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on March 11, 2009, Kirby was speeding in his 1977 Porsche with a 32-year-old female passenger, Lynn Marie Nabozny, alongside a 2004 Ferrari driven by 45-year-old Charles David Lewis, Jr., on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach. Kirby lost control of his car due to his unsafe speed and crashed into Lewis’ vehicle. Lewis lost control of his Ferrari, which crashed into a cement light pole and was torn in half. Kirby swerved and came to a stop on Jamboree Road for several seconds before accelerating and leaving the scene.

A Newport Beach Police officer, who had been passing northbound on Jamboree, observed the crash and immediately stopped to assist Lewis and called for back up. Lewis was trapped inside the front half of the Ferrari, which had to be dismantled in order to remove him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Lewis’ 23-year-old passenger, Lacy Lynn White, was ejected from the car and landed on the nearby dirt embankment. White was transported to Western Medical Center to be treated for several bone fractures, lacerations and abrasions.

After leaving the scene, Kirby parked his Porsche, which had body damage consistent with having been involved in a crash, on Bison Avenue. Within minutes of the crash, a responding Newport Beach Police officer observed Kirby’s parked car and saw the defendant and Nabozny walking outside of the defendant’s vehicle. Kirby and Nabozny were both apprehended. When contacted by officers, the defendant was emitting an odor of alcohol, slurring his speech, and had bloodshot and watery eyes. He was arrested at the scene.

At approximately 3:00 a.m., two hours after the crash, Kirby had a blood alcohol level of .13 percent. Nabozny was arrested for public intoxication and later released.

Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez of the Vehicular Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

The trial for Jeffrey Kirby, the driver of the Porsche that was involved in the accident that killed Tapout co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis, began today. Kirby, who blew a .13 two hours after the crash, is on trial for one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury.

It appears the central argument is over who caused the crash that killed Lewis. The prosecution conceded that Lewis was racing Kirby at speeds in excess of 100 MPH, but argued that Kirby was the one who hit Lewis and caused his Ferrari to spin out of control into a light pole. The defense on the other hand claims that Lewis caused the collision when he approached Kirby from behind “at a speed that was absolutely frightful.” Defense attorney Mark Fredrick argued that Kirby was not responsible for the accident even though he was legally intoxicated.

In a rather puzzling statement, Frederick added that Kirby didn’t even know the accident occurred until hours later.

Kirby saw the Ferrari coming on fast in his rear-view mirror and attempted a quick lane change to get out of the way but instead started to spin, Fredrick claimed. Lewis was going so incredibly fast, Fredrick insisted, that he could not avoid the Porsche as he tried to blow by.

Fredrick also told the jury that Kirby did not know that he had collided with the Ferrari until hours later, believing that he had only struck a curb when he spun out.

Kirby, who stopped in his Porsche for three to five seconds after he came to a stop, did not see the crashed Ferrari, Fredrick said, even though the car was split in two and the concrete light standard was toppled.

Remarkably, this isn’t Kirby’s first DUI or even his second. He was convicted of his first in 1985 and his second in 2002. If he’s convicted on his third DUI charge and the vehicular manslaughter charge, he faces up to 19 years in state prison.

Image via Orange County Register

Chuck Liddell and Charles “Mask” Lewis will join Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture and Mark Coleman in the UFC Hall of Fame.

On Friday, July 10th, the UFC Hall of Fame inducts its two newest members, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and TapouT co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis.

“I appreciate this gesture and I’m glad that people appreciate what I do and that they think that I deserve this, but I’m just one of the guys that fight out there,” said Liddell, who admitted that this crowning moment of his storied career does come with some bittersweet feelings due to the fact that he won’t be able to share it with his longtime friend Lewis, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in March. “It’s gonna be a little rough being that it’s Charles and me, but for us to go in together, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Both legends of the sport in their own right.

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I know this is late. For some reason, I thought I had published this last week, but I guess I didn’t. Thought some of you would still like to see it though.

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Image courtesy of CombatLifestyle.com

In what will surely be a fast-paced and explosive fight, legendary fighter Frank Shamrock faces off against the durable Nick Diaz at the upcoming Strikeforce card on Showtime, April 11th.

Recently, we had the opportunity to talk to Frank and he filled us in on a number of important issues in his career, including the feud with the Gracie Camp, a probable move to professional boxing after rematches against Tito and Cung, the death of Tapout’s Mask, and what kind of books he reads to pump him up for his fights.

MMAConvert.com: Thanks a lot for taking time to talk to us Frank.
Shamrock: Not a problem at all, my pleasure.

MMAConvert.com: First off, how did the fight with Nick Diaz come about? Was this a fight you wanted or was it Diaz that was calling you out?
Shamrock: Well I got a call from Scott Coker and he said that he had just signed the Showtime agreement. He needed a big main event so I said, “Count me in.” Then, Scott called back about two days later and said, “What do you think about Nick Diaz?” and I said, “Uh, Nick who?” [Laughs]. Scott asked, “Well how about fighting him?” and I said, “I’d be happy to fight him.” And that was it.

MMAConvert.com: Do you feel you still have anything to prove against the Gracie camp? Is this fight with Diaz still an extension of that feud?
Shamrock: Well, I think I already proved everything; I knocked one of them out standing up and knocked one of them out on my back. I don’t what else there is to prove. I think that just stepping in their with a young guy who’s got a lot of good skills is enough for me these days.

MMAConvert.com: Despite the fact that you’re the one going down in weight and Nick’s the one going up, you’re being touted as the smaller fighter. What’s your reaction to that?
Shamrock: I think I’m the smaller fighter [Laughs]. I think I’m the little guy. Nick’s like 6’3. The last time I saw him he was easily 185 pounds and I’m only 5’10 and 183 pounds.

MMAConvert.com: How much weight are you cutting to get down to 179 pounds?
Shamrock: Well my natural body weight is about 183 pounds. I’ll be at around 186 pounds so I’ll probably have to cut about 5 or 6 pounds.

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