Official Tire of the UFC®, Toyo Tires® to bring MMA Athletes to 2011 SEMA Show

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. is bringing a touch of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 2011 SEMA Show, November 1 - 4. In the town that has become synonymous with big name fight nights, their Las Vegas themed booth will include appearances by well-known MMA fighters and an Octagon®-inspired interactive photo display along with crowd-stopping vehicles and Las Vegas DJ, Mikey Swift, on the turntables.

Attendees will have the chance to take pictures with the fighters, and then download those free pictures almost immediately to share them with their friends. Fans will also be able to pose for pictures with an official UFC® championship belt.

“As the Official Tire of the UFC, we are excited to showcase our involvement with the fastest growing sport in the United States,” said Amy Coleman, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “This is a fun way to provide an opportunity for customers and fans to meet the fighters in person and share the experience with their friends. Like Toyo Tires, these athletes are driven to perform and be the best.”

Some of the fighters scheduled to appear in the Toyo Tires booth* include UFC light heavyweight Brandon “The Truth” Vera, Strikeforce® women’s welterweight champion Miesha “Take-Down” Tate, UFC featherweight Chad “Money” Mendes and UFC lightweight Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. The first 100 people in line to meet Pettis will also receive a special Toyo Tires/Showtime Pettis t-shirt by FORM Athletics.

More fighters will be announced next week so attendees are encouraged to stop by the Toyo Tires booth #43097 in the South Hall of the convention center for a complete schedule.

Current Schedule*

Tuesday 11/1 • 10 am – Noon: Fighter To Be Announced • 2 pm – 4 pm: Strikeforce women’s welterweight champion, Miesha "Take-Down" Tate

Wednesday 11/2 • 10 am - Noon: UFC light heavyweight, Brandon "The Truth" Vera

• 2 pm – 4 pm: Fighter To Be Announced

Thursday 11/3 • 10 am - Noon: UFC featherweight Chad “Money” Mendes • 2 pm – 4 pm: UFC lightweight, Anthony "Showtime" Pettis

The booth will also showcase four unique vehicles including the Toyo Tires Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes custom Dodge Durango. The 2011 Mineral Gray Metallic Dodge Durango Heat Edition 4x4 is loaded with custom features including a set of Toyo® Proxes® ST II™ high performance tires and a T-REX™ four piece flat black mesh grill fitted with the UFC® logo. Running through January 2, 2012; the Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes will award one winner a set of Toyo tires each week while one lucky person will drive away with the Grand Prize Dodge Durango. Show attendees can enter to win by scanning a QR code at the Toyo Tires booth or going online to www.toyotires.com/sweepstakes.

For those who can’t attend the SEMA Show, Toyo Tires will provide regular updates, including photos and videos, on both Facebook and Twitter. Like them at www.facebook.com/toyotires and follow them at www.twitter.com/toyotires.

To learn more about the full line of Toyo Tires products for passenger cars and light trucks, log onto www.toyotires.com. Toyo Tires manufactures and distributes a complete line of premium replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks. Connect with the community at www.facebook.com/toyotires and www.twitter.com/toyotires.