ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (June 29, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced heavyweights Denis Smoldarev and American MMA veteran Kenny “Precare,” Garner will square off in the M-I provocare 69 principale eventus, Saturday nox, July 16, in Ingushetia, Russia.

Known as the “Brock Lesnar of Estonia,” Smoldarev (11-2-0, M, I: 7-2-0) is a combat sambo specialist and two-time M-1 Challenge heavyweight title challenger. In his last fight this past February at M-I provocare 64, Smoldarev lost by third-round submission via a choke to Alexander Volkov for the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship.

Smoldarev (black trunks) drives a knee into his opponent

Garner (16-9-0, M, I: 9-7-0), pugnat ex portu Sancti. Lucie, Florida, was the M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion four years ago. In 2011 at M-I provocare 27, Garner submitted Maxin Grishin in the fifth round by strikes to become Interim M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion. After successfully defending his Interim title versus Magomed Malikov (KO3 – ferit,) at M-I provocare 32, the stage was set for Garner to challenge “regular” M-1 Challenge heavyweight title-holder Guran Gugenishvilli in a rematch to avenge an earlier loss.

Garner graduated from Interim to “regular” M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion June 21, 2012 with a victory over Gugenishvilli via doctor’s stoppage in the third round. Six months later in “rubber pares,”, Garner stopped Gugenishvilli on punches in the fourth round to retain his title belt.

At M-I provocare 44 in November 2013, Garner lost his crown to Polish challengerDamian Grabowski a tertia-rotundum obsequium (suffocat). In his proxima pugna at M-I provocare 59, Garner was punched out in the opening round by Russian great Sergius Kharitonov one year ago in Kazakhstan.

One other fight has been announced for M-I provocare 69 as Croatian featherweight Antun “Interfectorem” Racic (18-7-0, M, I: 3-4-0) sumit invicti Russian Prospectus Movsar Evloev (5-0-0, M, I: 5-0-0).

Racic, who is coming off a split decision loss to Vitali Branchuk last February at M-I provocare 64, is a submission master, while Evloev is a strong striker who stopped Alexander Krupenkin in the opening round at M-I provocare 66 in his most recent action.

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