UFC Takes Over Barns & Noble on Dec. 15

When the $2,500, 20" x 26", over 50-pound version of the book 'Octagon' hit the marketplace last year, it was a big event for fans of the UFC, as well as for photography and art aficionados around the world.

Now the book is being released to retail outlets by Brady Games in a $40 version that may be easier to fit on your bookshelf, but that is just as big an event – so big that 20 UFC stars will be appearing at 20 Barnes and Noble locations around the United States on Monday, Dec. 15 to sign the book and meet with fans.

Some of the UFC stars who will be making appearances for this unprecedented book signing event are former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, former welterweight champion Matt Serra, former lightweight champ Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Keith Jardine, Thiago Alves, Houston Alexander, Mike Swick, and Diego Sanchez.

The 360-page 'Octagon' is the branchild of world-renowned photographer Kevin Lynch, as well as the UFC's Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White. Packed with over 900 photos on glossy paper, this hardcover coffee table book takes you into the UFC like never before. From fight action to unique studio shots, the photos show you something new every time you see them. The crowning glory of the book though may be the 'before and after' shots taken of some of the game's warriors just before and directly after they compete in the world's hardest sport.

Said Fertitta, "the before and after photos Kevin has assembled are so compelling - and as an active art collector, these are some of the best art photos I have ever seen. That's because a look into the eyes of each fighter before and after a fight tells a story."

Lynch began photographing mixed martial arts in 2002, with his first UFC event being the UFC 40 battle between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock. Since then, he has been Octagonside for practically every UFC event, capturing the sport from a unique vantage point. This book is the fruit of those labors.

"I had the opportunity to actually get to know these fighters and get to portray them and honor them, hopefully, with my pictures," said Lynch, who will appear with Karo Parisyan at the Los Angeles Barnes and Noble on Dec. 15. "To be able to be appreciated for that, to have access, and have a result of this wonderful book that Lorenzo (Fertitta), Frank (Fertitta), and Dana (White) have allowed me to produce is the true highlight because it's like the crescendo."

The original, limited edition release of Octagon is still available for purchase at the UFC web site.

Barnes and Noble 'Octagon' Book Signing Locations, Times, and Participants

ALBUQUERQUE
Keith Jardine 7:00 PM 6600 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110

BOSTON
Kenny Florian 6:00 PM 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02119

CHICAGO
Clay Guida 7:00 PM 297 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523

CINCINNATI
Dustin Hazelett 7:00 PM 7800 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

DENVER
Nate Marquardt 7:00 PM 8374 S. Willow Street, Littleton, CO 80124

INDIANAPOLIS
Chris Lytle 6:00 PM 3748 East 82nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240

IRVINE
Eddie Sanchez 7:00 PM 901B South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

LAS VEGAS
Stephan Bonnar 7:00 PM 8915 W. Charleston, Las Vegas, NV 89117

LONG ISLAND
Matt Serra 7:00 PM 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove, NY 11755

LOS ANGELES
Karo Parisyan / Kevin Lynch 7:30 PM 189 Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036

MAUI
Kendall Grove 7:00 PM 325 Keawe #101, Lahaina, Hi 96761

MIAMI
Thiago Alves 7:00

PM 12405 N Kendall Drive, Miami, FL 33186

MINNEAPOLIS
Sean Sherk 7:00 PM 118 E. Broadway, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN 55425

NEW ORLEANS
Rich Clementi 7:00 PM 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70002

OMAHA
Houston Alexander 7:00 PM 3333 Oakview Dr, Omaha, NE 68144

PORTLAND
Nate Quarry 6:30 PM 12000 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97266

SACRAMENTO
James Irvin 7:00 PM 1725 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815

SAN DIEGO
Diego Sanchez 7:00 PM 2015 Birch Rd, San Diego, CA 91915

SAN JOSE
Mike Swick 7:00 PM 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122

SAN LUIS OBISPO
Chuck Liddell 7:00 PM 894 Marsh Street, Bldg. G, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401