(L-R) – Rashid Yusupov and Stephan Puetz

ST. PETERSBURG, Ryssland (December 6, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced a blockbuster match-up to kick-off its 2017 season as undefeated M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Rashid Yusupov takes on former titlist Stephan “T-800” Puetz i M-1 Challenge 74 main event, Februari 18, i St. Petersburg, Ryssland.

M-1 Challenge 74 kommer att streamas live från St. Petersburg i high definition påwww.M1Global.TV. Tittarna kommer att kunna titta på preliminära slagsmål och huvudkortet genom att logga in för att registrera dig på www.M1Global.TV. Fans kan titta på alla de åtgärder på sina datorer, samt på Android och Apple smarta telefoner och surfplattor.

The 24-year-old Yusupov (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), fighting out of Dagestan, Ryssland, will be making his first title defense having captured his coveted belt this past May at M-1 Challenge 66, by way of a 5-round unanimous decision over defending champion Viktor Nemkov.

Yusupov (2 KO / TKO, 1 SUB), representing Gorets fight club (Highlander), has three other victories in M-1 Challenge competition over Martin Zawada (DEC3), Mitry Madvedev (KO / TKO1 – Stansa) och Charles Andrade (DEC3).

Puetz, 29, has won six of seven M-1 Challenge fights going into fifth title fight. The talented German (5 KO / TKO, 5 SUB) from Team Spirit burst upon the M-1 Global scene 2 ½ years ago, vid M-1 Challenge 46, when he challenged M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Nemkov that ended in a 5-round split decision in favor of the new champion, Puetz.

Puetz successfully defended his title, i ordning, mot Luis Fernando(SUB2 – Choke) och Valery Mjasnikov (KO2 – Punches), followed with a Super Fight knockout (nose injury) of M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura in the third round of their May 2, 2015 non-title fight at M-1 Challenge 72. Puetz then lost his title to Nemkov by way of a 5-round majority decision in the M-1 Challenge 63 Fight of the Night.

To get back into title contention, Puetz won his last two fights against Andrey Seledtsov (DEC3) och Marcus Vinicius (SUB3 – Choke) this past October at M-1 Challenge 71.

Information

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