ST. PETERSBURG, Rusija (Sausis 16, 2017) – M-1 Global has announced that M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Aleksandras “Iron Capture” Butenko will take on challenger Abukaras Yandievas (8-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0) į M-1 Iššūkis 74 co-feature on Vasaris 18, St. Peterburgas, Rusija.

The previously announced main event pits undefeated M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Rašidas Jusupovo (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Rusijos, defends his title against former titlist Stephanas “T-800” Puetz (15-2-0, M-1: 6-1-0), Vokietijos.

M-1 Iššūkis 74 bus transliuojamas iš St. Peterburgas didelės raiškos ant www.M1Global.TV. Stebėtojai galės žiūrėti preliminarius kovoja ir pagrindinę plokštę prisijungdami prie užsiregistruoti www.M1Global.TV. Ventiliatoriai gali žiūrėti visus veiksmus savo kompiuteriuose, taip pat "Android" ir "Apple" išmaniųjų telefonų ir tabletes.

Also announced is a fight between top bantamweights Vitaly Branchuk irMoktar “Le Kabyle” Benkaci will also be in action with the winner positioning himself for a potential title shot with M-1 Challenge bantamweight championPavelas Vitruk in the not-too-distant future.

A strong Ukrainian with superior wrestling skills, Butenko (42-11-2, M-1: 9-1-0) is an eight-year MMA veteran who has found a welcomed home in M-1 Challenge competition and he has taken advantage of the opportunity. Riding a six-fight win streak, the 29-year-old Butenko captured the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title belt last June at M-1 Challenge 67, when he took a five-round unanimous decision over Artiom Damkovsky.

Savo paskutinio veiksmo, ne M-1 Challenge 71 spalio, Butenko won a unanimous three-round decision against Rubenilton Pereira in a non-title fight.

Butenko’s first title defense will be against one of the most popular MMA fighters in Russia, the fighting powerhouse Yandiev, who also is a strong wrestler, plus a solid Judo background. The rising lightweight star will be a certain fan favor because of his nationality as well as his style of fighting, resulting in first-round endings in all his pro fights to date.

Last June at M-1 Iššūkis 68, Yandiev used an armlock for a first-round submission of Tony Christodoulou, fought at a 177 ½ kg. catchweight.

Like Butenko, Branchuk (21-6-0, M-1: 1-2-0) also fights out of Ukraine. The 25-year-old fighter is a former M-1 Challenge bantamweight title challenger, who was riding an eight-fight into his last fight, in which he lost by fourth-round submission (uždusti) to the aforementioned Vitruk (see accompanying picture to left). In M-1 Challenge competition, Branchuk defeated Antun Racicone year ago, by way of a three-round split decision at M-1 Iššūkis 64.

Benkaci (13-7-0, (M-1: 2-1-0) is a grappling specialist from France. Known and highly respected for his great conditioning and endurance, he lost a disputed three-round decision in his M-1 Challenge debut to Nikitos Chistyakov 1-½ years ago, but the talented Frenchman bounced back to knockout his last two opponents, Vadim Malygin irAlexey Naumov, atitinkamai, by knee and punch.

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