(L-R) Artiom Damkovsky & Mansour Barnaoui

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Hakihea 29, 2015) — M-1 Challenge toa Kōmāmā Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui will make his first title defense, February 19 at Olympic Stadium, ki Artiom Damkovsky i M-1 Challenge 64 i roto i te Moscow, Russia.

In a previously announced title fight, newly M-1 Global-signed Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0), o Russia, takes on Estonian challenger Denis Smoldaraev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0) for the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship.

Barnaoui (12-3-0, M-1: 2-2-0), whawhai i roto i Paris, will be making his first title defense against a dangerous challenger. After defeating previously undefeated Maxim Divnich(10-0-0) (see picture below) by way of a first-round stoppage via punches, Kia 2, 2015 iM-1 Challenge 57, Barnaoui dropped down in weight and he unsuccessfully challenged M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan Buchinger this past October by five-round decision at M-1 Challenge 57.

Belarus-native Damkovsky (20-9-0, M-1: 10-6-0), shown below on mat, is riding a four-fight win streak to become the top contender going into his title fight showdown with Barnaoui.