September 9, 2003 For more information: Frank Scatoni 619-807-1887 frank@ventureliterary.com "No Kill Date" Venture Literary Sells Ultimate Fighting Book to Citadel Press On September 9, 2003, Greg Dinkin of Venture Literary sold the world rights to Erich Krauss and the UFC’s Into the Octagon: An Inside Look at Ultimate Fighting to Bruce Bender at Citadel Press. The book is an insider’s look at the world of no-holds-barred fighting and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and will include amazing photographs of UFC stars. On the night of December 11, 1993, millions of viewers watching on television around the world were introduced to the UFC–an event that pitted fighters from different martial arts disciplines against each other in an elimination tournament to declare an ultimate champion. The next hour and a half forever changed the world’s view of martial arts, and the UFC became an overnight sensation, with such charismatic stars as Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie leading the way. Heart and courage were displayed, and champions emerged, making the UFC the most talked about sporting event in years. Today, with champions such as Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, and Ken Shamrock laying it on the line in the octagon, the sport has reached new heights. The fans can’t get enough of their new heroes, making the time right for Into the Octagon–the official UFC book that tells the story of the revolutionary sporting event and its fighters through an unprecedented collection of photography and accompanying narrative, capturing the modern mixed-martial arts legends at their best. Krauss, a no-holds barred fighter, has fought all over the world, and currently trains at the renowned Lion’s Den in California, where he has interviewed many of the top no-holds-barred fighters. He’s also the author of three books: Brawl, Little Evil, and On the Line. Zuffa Entertainment purchased the UFC on January 9, 2001. With the intention of turning the spectacle into a legitimate sport, they added weight classes, introduced new rules, educated the public, and pumped millions of dollars into advertising. With Carmen Elektra as their spokeswoman, and Fear Factor’s Joe Rogan as their commentator, the popularity of the UFC has grown tremendously over the past several years. They have produced two best-selling video games, and they have aired a television mini-series on pay-per-view about the fighters and their training camps. To learn more about Venture Literary, visit www.ventureliterary.com To learn more about Citadel Press, visit www.kensingtonbooks.com To learn more about the UFC, visit http://www.zuffa.com/