The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. I by Chris Rini

Credit: Chris Rini, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. I

The Fight Site is thrilled to partner with Bloody Elbow columnist Chris Rini to promote his new book, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1, a first-of-its-kind book of hand drawn illustrations showcasing MMA athletes and fights. With over 100 hand drawn illustrations of MMA athletes and fights, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 is the first book of its kind to present the often brutal action of mixed martial arts as fine art. Each of the book’s full color, black & white or charcoal illustrations were hand drawn by New York visual artist and Bloody Elbow columnist Chris Rini. Accompanying the illustrations are 10 short essays by author, writer and former Fightland editor-in-chief Josh Rosenblatt. As diverse as the sport itself, The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 portrays female and male MMA athletes across 12 weight-classes. The goal in illustrating The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 is to showcase mixed martial artists telling their story through the movements of their bodies. The Fine Art of Violence, Vol. 1 also features 10 short essays from MMA author, writer, and one-time fighter Josh Rosenblatt. Rosenblatt wrote the well-received book Why We Fight: One Man’s Search for Meaning Inside the Ring in 2019, was editor-and-chief of Fightland, and his work has appeared in numerous publications over the years. Josh first met Chris Rini while interviewing him for a story in Fightland, and the two became friends when Chris was hired on as one the site’s first contributors. Rosenblatt’s poignant prose adds written details to the book’s visual stories, expanding on the isolated moments by placing them within the larger narrative of fighters’ careers and lives.

This amazing collection of artwork and mixed martial arts history is available as both a limited edition book, or as a digital download at https://chrisrini.com/shop. All purchases are greatly appreciated and we encourage you to send proof of purchase to our official twitter account.