Frederico Lapenda

Frederico Lapenda, movie producer and fight promoter, is one of the founders of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Lapenda is credited, along with Ultimate Fighting Championship co-creator Art Davie, as being responsible for the globalization of MMA. Lapenda is also the president of the Beverly Hills Film Festival Grand Jury. He has produced films, MMA events and documentaries. Two of his works, Kidnapping and Unknown Distance, were eligible for Oscar nominations. Lapenda was honored for his lifelong accomplishments during his tenure as Tourism Ambassador, a position appointed by the President of Brazil, placing him among fellow appointees Ronaldinho, Vitor Belfort, Renzo Gracie and Romero Britto. One of his most significant accomplishments was the creation of Allies of the Amazon, a children's book about four super-powered talking animals who protect the Amazon rainforest, with Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee. In 2011, Lapenda produced the first pay-per-view event on YouTube on his Fight Game Channel, broadcasting a Moscow event worldwide. In 1998, he became the first producer to broadcast MMA on US TV on channel 22 in Los Angeles. In 1997, he introduced PPV to Brazil with his World Vale Tudo Championship III (WVC) event in São Paulo and in 1997 his WVC event aired on US PPV, making him just the fourth producer to promote MMA on US PPV.