Searching for next MMA fighter, “American Idol”-style

If you’re a talented, undiscovered amateur MMA fighter with big dreams but a low budget, mixed martial arts event promoter Terry Trebilcock has a deal for you.

Trebilcock, owner and chief executive of the King of the Cage fight organization, Tuesday unveiled a one-of-a-kind combat fight event that is a “Star Search”/”American Idol”-style competition for strictly amateur MMA fighters to find the sport’s next big star.

Trebilcock will pick 40 amateur fighters from around the world to stage 20 fights at the Palms on Oct. 19 with professional contracts to be awarded to the event’s five top competitors.

Worldwide fight fans will vote via text to award a $100,000 contract to the event’s top fighter.

Fans and judges inside The Pearl at the Palms will pick the other four, with two fighters drawing $50,000 contracts each and two others each winning a $25,000 contract.

Trebilcock has dubbed the event, the “World Amateur Championships” — just the latest championship event to be staged in Las Vegas.

Lucas Oil, the event’s chief sponsor, will supply the $250,000 for the contracts, Trebilcock said.

MAVTV, which broadcasts fights and motor sports programming to 68 million homes, will televise the amateur championship. Lucas Oil purchased MAVTV in 2011.

Amateurs can apply by filling out an application on the fight organization’s Web site at www.kingofthecage.com.

“We are looking for top-level fighters,” said Trebilcock, whose fight promotion company is based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. “No country will be left out.”

Trebilcock has 400 fighters under contract and stages 50 professional events a year under the King of the Cage banner. But he also dabbles with amateur fight shows, holding about eight a year. Amateurs can range from 16 to 30 years old and typically come from police or fire department backgrounds, Trebilcock said.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of amateur MMA fighters around the world, Trebilcock said. In Southern California alone, there are at least 5,000, he said.

The 40 amateurs who are picked to fight will be responsible for travel costs to reach Las Vegas. But King of the Cage will pay for three nights at the Palms, food, gloves and apparel, Trebilcock said.

Some big MMA names joined Trebilcock in the event announcement, including noted MMA referee and former fighter Herb Dean, who recalled working King of the Cage fights. Dean said he supported the amateur fight scene.

“That’s the big growth of our sport,” Dean said.

Ralph Cook, Nevada director for International Sport Karate Association, was also on hand. Cook, whose organization provides regulatory oversight to 90 percent of all amateur MMA events in the state, said he will make sure that the 40 competitors are amateurs and have not received payments for previous fights.

Trebilcock expects The Pearl to sell all 2,300 seats for the amateur championship, with tickets costing $40-$100 each.

Trebilcock envisions next year’s amateur championship to include qualifying fights at various casino locations, before the title event is staged again at the Palms.

Contact reporter Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273.