UltimateBet sponsor Chuck Liddell

UltimateBet announced today that it has inked a deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship that will deliver a kickass presence for the leading online poker site’s logo and brand at the upcoming UFC 97 event in Montreal, Canada on April 18, 2009.

A highlight of the UFC 97 deal for UltimatBet is the signing of mixed martial arts legend Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell. The former UFC light heavyweight champion will don the UB logo when he squares off against Brazilian Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in what promises to be one of the most explosive match-ups of 2009, and one of the most watched Pay-Per-View UFC events in the history of the world’s leading combat sport.

‘The Iceman’, one of the most popular and charismatic fighters in the organization and one of its major box office draw cards, is widely credited for bringing MMA into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. Liddell’s star status and broad public appeal have won him fans even in Hollywood, with guest turns on cult TV dramedy Entourage, and cameo appearances in films including 300 and Drillbit Taylor amongst his credits.

The 39 year-old, all-American UFC icon faces his most challenging role ahead of him, when he enters the Octagon looking to reclaim the magic that saw him notch up a spectacular 18-3 win-loss record from 1999 to 2007. On a mission to kick-start another winning streak during the hotly-anticipated showdown against Rua, Liddell guarantees priceless brand exposure for UltimateBet and inestimable marketing value for the online poker room in over 100 countries and territories where UFC 97 will be telecast.

Matt Graham joins UB Star Players Team

UltimateBet has given its roster of online poker talent a boost with the signing of Matt Graham to it’s Star Players team.

“I am so thrilled to have Matt Graham on the team,” stated Annie Duke, UltimateBet’s Cardroom Consultant. “Matt epitomizes the all-around poker player. He has great results in all the games, live or online. Matt is an amazing addition to the Ultimatebet.com team.”

Before launching a successful poker career, Graham studied pre-med for three years in Connecticut. His composed playing style has led to a number of online success stories and he has gone on to duplicate the formula offline, with career winnings totaling nearly $ 1,000,000. Last year, Graham won his first WSOP bracelet when he took down the Limit Hold’em Shootout event and pocketed more than $ 278,000. Other notable wins include the 2008 Five Diamond World Poker Classic and the 2008 World Poker Challenge.

“I look forward to the opportunity to represent UltimateBet.com both online and in the live arena,” noted Matt Graham. “I never would have thought I would be a site pro when I began my online poker career at UltimateBet.com four years ago, but now here I am. I am very excited to be a part of the future of this site.”