BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Sept 6th, 2006 (SportWire) -- Imperia Entertainment (Pink Sheets:IPRE) President James Hergott announced today a signature series custom clothing and gear merchandising line will be created in connection with the mixed martial arts (MMA) movie Never Submit.

Hergott will collaborate with TapouT Magazine Executive Vice President Bobby Pittman to determine what the line will consist of. Popular items expected to debut in the series include apparel items for both men and women and will feature t-shirts, hoodies, beanies, hats, tank tops, jackets, rashguards and shorts as well as intimate attire such as thongs and boxers. The Never Submit signature series will also include popular gear and accessory items like bags, wallets, bandanas, hand-towels, patches, keychains, jewelry and water bottles.

Hergott comments: “Never Submit is the right project, at the right time, aimed at the right demographic for Imperia Entertainment. The goal is to develop a quality line of clothing and gear to carry the Never Submit branding. The styles must be practical, look and fit great, appeal to hardcore and casual MMA fans as well as offer a distinctive tie in to the movie . Collateral items and branding seen in movies influence buyers to purchase similar items in the marketplace, especially in the areas of clothing and related merchandise. The sport of MMA and the apparel and gear associated with it are insanely popular with the teen/young adult demographic Never Submit will target, but the availability and styles are very limited. It makes perfect sense to take advantage of the opportunity to create our own signature series and market that brand accordingly.”

TapouT Magazine will showcase the Never Submit signature apparel and merchandise line on a virtual store they are developing for their website, as well as in their magazine and at their events booth. The signature series items will also be available at www.neversubmit.com and www.mmamovie.com, both controlled by Imperia Entertainment who also plans to unveil Never Submit designs at several promotional events planned in connection with promoting the movie.

“TapouT Magazine and everyone associated with the publication are quality conscious in everything they do. Their contributors include some of the top talent MMA has to offer covering absolutely every facet of this sport. The line we come up with will be put through the ultimate test during the filming of Never Submit and if it makes through that, the line will be good enough to put our name on it,” adds Hergott. “The actors and fighters who are featured in the movie will wear the Never Submit signature series gear and apparel in order to further promote the merchandise line. This is expected to bring greater exposure to both the movie and the merchandise line.”

ABOUT TAPOUT MAGAZINE

TapouT is one of the most popular brand names in MMA. The TapouT brand is often featured at major events and on the clothing worn by several top MMA fighters. TapouT Magazine is the only full color,glossy, MMA and grappling tutorial available in the US. It includes training columns by some of the world's top MMA writers, fighters and coaches, including Bas Rutten, Mike Swain, Randy Couture, Frank Trigg, Erik Paulson, Eddie Bravo etc. It is also the number one and fastest growing exclusive MMA magazine in North America.

TapouT Magazine has a paid circulation base of 32,000 and growing at an amazing rate of an average of 500 additional subscribers and 1,5000 additional newsstands each issue. Subscriptions for the magazine are in over 15 countries and growing. They are in all Barnes and Noble, Borders Books, B. Dalton, Books a Million, Walden books nationwide along with over 600 independent bookstores. TapouT Magazine is now in thousands of locations in all 50 states including Martial Arts Studios, Affiliates, PMG Military Sales, MMA Product Stores and Newsstands. They have a phenomenal 82% sell through rate. As part of TapouT Magazine's new campaign they have started building one of theworlds largest MMA Stores, forums, and news sections on their website and expect millions of hits per month. They are based out of Cypress, California.

ABOUT "NEVER SUBMIT"

"Never Submit" is a movie which portrays the thrill of victory and agony of defeat within the sport. The story is set in a tournament setting similar to the movie "Bloodsport" but rather than exploiting the sport as underground no-holds-barred fighting, it seeks to portray the sport in a realistic and positive light. The movie will be an inspirational tale similar to "Rocky." Unlike "Rocky," the lead character is an educated young man, rather than a beaten-down punch-drunk fighter. Mr. Hergott comments: "MMA is a very intellectual sport. A physical chess match. I want to portray the sport and its fighters as intelligent rather than dumb brawlers, as is often done in other movies."

Already attached to the project is Executive Producer Tarquin Gotch ("Home Alone", "Curly Sue") and cinematographer Peter Benison, CSC ("Chicago", "Silent Hill"). Imperia president James Hergott is slated to direct.