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Wednesday, 08/02/2006 8:38:22 AM

Wednesday, August 02, 2006 8:38:22 AM

UFC Fighters To Be Featured In Imperia Entertainment’s Mixed Martial Arts Movie “Never Submit” and High Profile Executive Producer Announced
Imperia Entertainment (Pink Sheets: IPRE) President James Hergott announces today that he has received permission to use fighters from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the upcoming mixed martial arts movie entitled Never Submit. Hergott and Never Submit Producer Cindy Ortiz met with UFC President Dana White in his Las Vegas office on Friday July 21st, 2006 to discuss the project and use of UFC contract fighters in the movie.

Ortiz comments, “The meeting went well. Mr. White and Mr. Hergott share a lot of the same goals on how the sport of MMA should be depicted on the silver screen and ensuring an accurate portrayal was number one on both of their lists. I think Mr. White appreciated the fact Mr. Hergott himself has been a martial arts practitioner for nearly half of his life. Hergott’s passion for this sport was obvious to me from the moment I read his script (Never Submit). White was interested in helping the young director and I feel his generosity in allowing us to showcase UFC fighters in the movie will have a huge impact on the realism of the film.”

Hergott comments, “As a former Judo competitor, I have closely followed this sport and have been a fan of MMA since its North American introduction in 1993. Mixed martial arts is gaining true mainstream acceptance which in large part is due to the success of the UFC and the Spike TV hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter that recently completed filming its fourth season. Never Submit will appeal to the hardcore fans as well as expose movie goers to this emerging sport who may know very little, if anything, about MMA when they enter the theater. My goal is to turn as many of them into fans as possible by the closing credits.”

Hergott continues, “It is my intent as writer and director to portray the sport of MMA, the athletes competing in it and the fans supporting it in a positive light. MMA isn’t a barbaric underground blood sport like it has been depicted in the past by other filmmakers. It’s a very intellectual sport; a physical chess match between men. This movie will showcase the courage, integrity, commitment, athleticism and sportsmanship found in these modern day gladiators and I’m looking forward to telling their stories.”

According to Hergott, “Dana is a true visionary as well as a great business man who shares my dedication and passion for this sport. I have wanted to do a movie about MMA since before Zuffa even acquired the UFC, but I just wasn’t in a position to do so until now. I very much admire what he has been able to accomplish in this industry over the past few years and I recognize his success is a direct result of the fact he never stopped believing in this sport or his company.”

Hergott continues, “I’m looking forward to working with fighters from all three seasons of The Ultimate Fighter as well as those competing in the live UFC events. Never Submit will provide great exposure for these guys who want to experience what it’s like being on the silver screen. Quite a few fighters aspire to become actors and I appreciate the fact Dana has been proactive in making this opportunity available to fighters representing the UFC organization. He truly cares about who they are and what they want to accomplish in their lives and he could have just as easily said ‘no’ when approached about it.”

Ms. Ortiz comments, “Mixed martial arts is regulated and sanctioned by numerous state athletic commissions (20 so far in North America) because they recognize it to be a legitimate sport just like baseball, football and basketball. Professional fighters are just as much professional athletes as the elite performers found in other sports. I feel that Never Submit will be a movie with widespread appeal and the action is going to keep movie goers on the edge of their seats just like it does millions of spectators flocking to live MMA events every year around the globe.”

Ortiz continues, “The script doesn’t present MMA as the hobby it is for some, nor does it focus on amateur level competitors. Never Submit showcases the intensity of professional fighting and takes you inside the world of this very controversial sport, something James Hergott knows quite a bit about. It is a pleasure to be involved with this project because I think it’s going to succeed in helping fighters to gain the long overdue respect and recognition they deserve as well as help solidify MMA as a true sport in a mainstream environment.”

Future releases will identify the actors as well as the UFC fighters cast for Never Submit.

About Never Submit

Executive Producer Tarquin Gotch announced for Never Submit. Tarquin Gotch served as Executive Producer of Home Alone, the best selling comedy film of all time, which made more than $534 million worldwide at the box office and another $140 million in DVD and VHS rentals. Gotch also ran the in house television films department of 20th Century Fox after producing several well-acclaimed comedies. His credits include Curly Sue, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Cinematographer for Never Submit is Peter Benison CSC whose work includes the opening sequence and visual effects to the 2006 Sony Pictures thriller Silent Hill. Mr. Benison also credited with several sequences for the 2002 Miramax release Chicago, which won 6 Academy Awards, including Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Costume, Best Supporting Role, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Picture. Chicago went on to make $170 million at the US Box Office. Mr. Benison has been nominated for numerous achievements and is an award recipient in cinematography and has received positive reviews from such publications as Variety, USA TODAY and The Hollywood Reporter.

About the UFC

The UFC (www.ufc.com) is the #1 MMA organization in North America with an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the market share. UFC titles consistently occupy the #1 spot on the sports related DVD sales chart in the United States. The UFC is broadcast/televised in 40 countries with expansion plans in the near future to include Canada and Europe, and was recently estimated to be a billion dollar brand name with a worldwide following.

The Los Angeles Staples Center hosted UFC: 60 in May and the event pulled an almost $3-million live gate and $24-million in pay-per-view buys. It was recently reported that Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the UFC, acquired the organization in 2001 for a mere $2-million. It was announced earlier this year that Marc Ratner had left his job as executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission to become the UFC's vice president of government and regulatory affairs. Ratner’s objective is to work with the athletic commissions to get MMA sanctioned in every state.

MMA is the fastest growing sport in North America. The UFC’s hit reality show on Spike TV (www.spiketv.com) The Ultimate Fighter consistently earns phenomenal ratings and their contract has just been extended through to 2008. In the young adult males age 18-34 demographic, season one of The Ultimate Fighter averaged a 2.2 rating, season two averaged a 2.5 rating and season three averaged a 2.9 rating. The show consistently attracts major advertisers including Burger King, the U.S. Army, Taco Bell, Xyience, Direct TV, Amp’d Mobile.

Spike TV airs additional UFC programming in the form of six live Ultimate Fight Night events per year and a series of one hour segments featuring top matches from previous UFC events entitled UFC Unleashed.

The Ultimate Fighter received “TV.com's Best of 2005 Viewer's Choice” award in the Best Reality Show category, receiving 35% of the viewer votes. Runners Up: America's Next Top Model (16%), The Amazing Race (16%), Survivor (15%), The Apprentice (14%)

A recent article on ESPN charts the incredible rise of the sport:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2516201

Inquiries pertaining to fighters interested in becoming involved with this film, potential sponsorship opportunities available to companies/vendors and MMA media requests should be made via e-mail to cindy@imperiaentertainment.com.

All entertainment related inquiries should contact Imperia PR contact Vivian Fullerlove at musbviv@yahoo.com.

Visit imperiaentertainment.com for future updates on this movie.

About Imperia Entertainment

Imperia Entertainment, Inc. (www.imperiaentertainment.com) is a company, which has emerged as a player in the area of independent film production and distribution, once monopolized by the major film studios. In conjunction with its distribution subsidiary, Imperia International Distribution, the company engages in investing in and producing and distributing full-length feature films. Along with its equity interest in "All That I Need" (www.allthatineed.net), released in theaters last December, Imperia's film properties include its feature film in post production, "Say it In Russian," starring Faye Dunaway and Agata Gotova, "Brothers," by Tarquin Gotch ("Home Alone"), "Never Submit," a feature film on the subject of mixed martial arts, “Whiskers,” a family film, made by Imperia’s subsidiary, Muller Media, Inc. (Pink Sheets: MUME) and the award-winning "Autograph" television series (www.autograph.tv), which airs on the Colours Television Network.

This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Imperia entertainment, Inc.., and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of operating results, the ability to compete successfully and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results. All financial projections have been prepared by management, and are based on assumptions as to future events and conditions which may or may not occur. Most of these assumptions are beyond the company’s control and merely represent management’s forecasts. To the extent actual experience varies from any one or more of the assumptions, actual financial results will differ. While the company makes these projections in good faith, investors are cautioned that they are based on the company’s limited experience, represent goals and objectives, and are unreliable and of questionable value when making an investment decision.

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