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Smoldarev decisions Garner OFFICIAL RESULTS

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INGUSHETIA, Russia (July 17, 2016) –   Former two-time M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Denis Smoldarev (13-2-0, M-1: 8-2-0) positioned himself for another title shot, taking a decision from former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Kenny “Deuce” Garner (16-10-0, M-1: 9-8-0), last night in the M-1 Challenge 69: Battle in the Mountains 5 main event, at Targin in Ingushetia, Russia.
The judges were very busy as five of six main event fights went the full distance, headlined by Smoldarev, representing Estonia, defeated American veteran Garner by way of a unanimous three-round decision.
Smoldarev was in control vs. Garner
American featherweight Lee “Bulldog” Morrison (15-7-0, M-1: 2-4-0) fell short against Ukrainian Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev (9-6-0, M-1: 3-2-0), dropping a three-round unanimous decision.
In another featherweight match, Sergey Morozov (7-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0), of Kazakhstan, won a three-round decision versus always tough Ukrainian Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev(8-7-0, M-1: 2-3-0).
Brazilian heavyweight Marcus “Montanha” Vinicius Lopes‘ (10-4-0, M-1: 1-0-0) M-1 Global debut was a success as he won a three-round decision over Russian Kurban “Shkaf” Ibragimov (5-2-0, M-1: 3-2-0).
Russian flyweight Khamzat Dalgiev (6-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0) turned in an impressive performance, stopping Spaniard Ronny Gomez (3-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0) midway through the opening round on punches.
Croatian featherweight Antun “Killer” Racic (18-7-1, M-1: 3-4-1) unbeaten Russian prospect Movsar Evloev (5-0-1, M-1: 5-0-1), who took the fight on late notice, fought to a three-round draw..
Rounding out the main card are two other featherweight bouts: Brazilian Rafael Dias(11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0) vs. Kazakh Sergey Morozov (6-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0)
In preliminary card action, Russian lightweight Lom-Ali Nalgiev (7-4-0, M-1: 4-0-0) remained undefeated in M-1 Global competition, winning a three-round majority decision over Gabriel Sabo (7-1-1, M-1: 1-0-0), of Switzerland, while Russian featherweight Zaur Akhmedov (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0) won his M-1 Global debut with a three-round decision against Adam Gagiev (0-2-1, M-1: 0-2-0).
Russian light heavyweight Amirkhan Guliev (3-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) used a heel hook for a win by opening-round submission versus Spaniard Darwin Rodriguez (0-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0); Russian welterweight Magomed Maasaev (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0) locked in a triangle choke on Russian Ingiskhan Ozdoev (1-3-0, M-1: 1-3-0) for a submission victory in the second round; Adam Gagiev (1-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0) won a three-round decision over Russian pro-debuting Zaur Akhmedov (0-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0).
In the M-1 Medieval Knight fight between Russian heavyweights, Rustam Kukurkhoev won by second-round technical knockout over Vitaly Kravchenko.
Complete results and photo gallery below:
 
MAIN CARD
(all winners listed first)
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Denis Smoldarev (12-2-0, M-1: 8-2-0), Estonia
WDEC3
Kenny Garner (16-10-0, M-1: 9-8-0), Russia
Marcus Vinicius Lopes (10-4-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Brazil
WDEC3
Kurban Ibragimov (5-2-0, M-1: 3-2-0), Russia
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Rafael Dias (12-3-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Brazil
WDEC3
Sergey Morozov (6-2-0, M-1: 2-2-0), Kazakhstan
Andrey Lezhnev (9-6-0, M-1: 3-2-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Lee Morrison (15-7-0, M-1: 2-4-0), USA
Antun Racic (18-7-1, M-1: 3-4-1), Brazil
DRAW3
Musa Kazikhanov (3-0-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia
FLYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Khamzat Dalgiev (6-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russia
WKO/TKO1 (Punches – 2:28)
Ronny Gomez (4-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Spain
PRELIMINARY CARD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Amirkhan Guliev (3-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia
WSUB1 (Heel Hook – 3:16)
Darwin Rodriguez (0-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Spain
WELTERWEIGHTS
Magomed Maasaev (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia
WSUB2 (Triangle Choke – 1:50)
Ingiskhan Ozdoev (1-3-0, M-1: 1-3-0), Russia
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Lom-Ali Nalgiev (7-4-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Gabriel Sabo (6-2-1, M-1: 0-1-0), Switzerland
Sergey Astapov (7-4-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Ukraine
WKO/TKO1 (Punches – 1:10)
Abubaker Mestoev (1-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Adam Gagiev (1-1-1, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
WDEC3
Zaur Akhmedov (0-1-0, M-1: 010-0), Russia
M-1 MEDIEVAL KNIGHT FIGHT – HEAVYWEIGHTS
Rustam Kukurkhoev, Russia
WKO/TKO2
Vitaly Kravchenko, Russia
  
   
(L-R) – Kenny Garner & Denis Smoldarev
Dalgiev vs. Gomez
Sabo vs. Nalgiev
Kravchenko vs. Kukurkhoev
 
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M-1 CHALLENGE 69 OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

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MAIN CARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
 

DENIS SMOLDAREV (11-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Estonia 270 lbs. (122.7 kg)
vs.
KENNY “Deuce” GARNER (16-9-0, M-1: 9-7-0), Russia 271 ½ lbs. (123.3 kg)

MARCUS “Montanha” VINICIUS LOPES (9-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Brazil 225 lbs. (102.3 kg)
vs.
KURBAN “Shkaf” IBRAGIMOV (5-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russia 224 lbs. (101.9 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
 

RAFAEL DIAS (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Brazil 133 ½ lbs. (60.7 kg)
vs.
SERGEY MOROZOV (6-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Kazakhstan 134 ½ lbs. (65.6 kg)

ANDREY “Iron” LEZHNEV (8-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0), Ukraine 144 lbs. (65.4 kg)
vs.
LEE “Bulldog” MORRISON (15-6-0, M-1: 2-3-0), USA 144 lbs. (65.6 kg)

ANTUN “Killer” RACIC (18-7-0, M-1: 3-4-0), Brazil 136 lbs. (62.0 kg)
vs.
MUSA KAZIKHANOV (3-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 136 lbs. (62.0 kg)
FLYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
 

RONNY GOMEZ (3-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Spain 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
vs.
KHAMZAT DALGIEV (5-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
PRELIMINARY CARD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
 
DARWIN RODRIGUEZ (0-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Spain 203 lbs. (92.4 kg)
vs.
AMIRKHAN GULIEV (2-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 208 lbs. (94.7 kg)
WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
MAGOMED MAASAEV (pro debut), Russia 171 lbs. (77.8 kg)
vs.
INGISKHAN OZDOEV (1-2-0, M-1: 1-2-0), Russia (M-1: 1-2-0) 173 ½ lbs. (78.9 kg)
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
 

GABRIEL SABO (6-1-1, M-1: 0-0-0), Switzerland 154 lbs. (70.0 kg)
vs.
LOM-ALI NALGIEV (6-4-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia 155 lbs. (70.6 kg)

SERGEY “Bender” ASTAPOV (6-4-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Ukraine 155 lbs. (70.4 kg)
vs.
ABUBAKER MESTOEV (pro debut), Russia 155 ½ lbs. (70.7 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
 

ZAUR AKHMEDOV (pro debut), Russia 140 ½ lbs. (63.9 kg)
vs.
ADAM GAGIEV (0-1-1, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia 208 lbs. (94.7 kg)
MEDIEVAL KNIGHT FIGHT — HEAVYWEIGHTS
 

VITALY KRAVCHENKO, Russia 244 lbs. (110.9 kg)
vs.
RUSTAM KUKURKHOEV, Russia 234 lbs. (106.2 kg)
WHEN:             Saturday, July 16, 2016
WHERE:           Targim, Ingushetia, Russia
PROMOTER:    M-1 Global
LIVE STREAM: www.m-1global.tv (5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT in USA) 
         
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Solid main card set for this Saturday’s M-1 Challenge 69: Battle in the Mountains 5 

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Denis Smoldarev vs. Kenny Garner
 
July 16 in Ingushetia, Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (July 11, 2016) – M-1 Global has put together a solid main card for this Saturday night’sM-1 Challenge 69: Battle in the Mountains 5, headlined by heavyweights Denis Smoldarev (11-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), a two-time M-1 Challenge heavyweight title challenger, and former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Kenny “Deuce” Garner (16-9-0, M-1: 9-7-0), at Targin in Ingushetia, Russia.
M-1 Challenge 69 will be streamed live from Ingushetia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
 
One other previously announced M-1 Challenge 69 fight is Croatian featherweight Antun “Killer” Racic (18-7-0, M-1: 3-4-0) versus undefeated Russian prospect Movsar Evloev (5-0-0, M-1: 5-0-0).
Rounding out the main card are two other featherweight bouts: Brazilian Rafael Dias (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0) vs. Kazakh Sergey Morozov (6-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0) and Ukrainian Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev (8-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0) vs. American Lee “Bulldog” Morrison (15-6-0, M-1: 2-3-0), along with a heavyweight match between Brazilian Marcus “Montanha” Vinicius (9-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0) and Russian Kurban “Shkaf” Ibragimov (5-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0).
One preliminary card fight has been announced in the flyweight division as Ronny Gomez (3-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), of Spain, faces Russian Khamzat Dalgiev (5-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0).
Additional preliminary card bouts will be finalized and announced this week.
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Heavyweight headliner for M-1 Challenge 69 Denis Smoldarev vs. Kenny Garner   July 16 in Ingushetia, Russia

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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (June 29, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced heavyweights Denis Smoldarev and American MMA veteran Kenny “Deuce” Garner will square off in the M-1 Challenge 69 main event, Saturday night, July 16, in Ingushetia, Russia.
M-1 Challenge 69 will be streamed live from Ingushetia in high definition onwww.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
 
Known as the “Brock Lesnar of Estonia,” Smoldarev (11-2-0, M-1: 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-1 Challenge 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-1: 9-7-0), fighting out of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was the M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion four years ago.  In 2011 at M-1 Challenge 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 – strikes) at M-1 Challenge 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 their “rubber match,”, Garner stopped Gugenishvilli on punches in the fourth round to retain his title belt.
At M-1 Challenge 44 in November 2013, Garner lost his crown to Polish challengerDamian Grabowski by third-round submission (choke).  In his last fight at M-1 Challenge 59, Garner was punched out in the opening round by Russian great Sergei Kharitonov one year ago in Kazakhstan.
One other fight has been announced for M-1 Challenge 69 as Croatian featherweight Antun “Killer” Racic (18-7-0, M-1: 3-4-0) takes on undefeated Russian prospect Movsar Evloev (5-0-0, M-1: 5-0-0).
Racic, who is coming off a split decision loss to Vitali Branchuk last February at M-1 Challenge 64, is a submission master, while Evloev is a strong striker who stopped Alexander Krupenkin in the opening round at M-1 Challenge 66 in his most recent action.
            
           

(Antun Racic (L), Movsar Evloev (R)
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M-1 Challenge 64 Bonus Performances Announce

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MOSCOW (February 29, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced its M-1 Challenge 64bonus performances, highlighted by co-Fight of the Night awards, along with KO of the Night and Submission of the Night.
 
Veteran Russian fighter Alexander Shlemenklo (52-9-0), a three-time Bellator champion, won a close unanimous decision over former 2-division M-1 Challenge division Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-3-0), of Russia, in their M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament co-Fight of the Night match (pictured below).
 
Sharing top honors for Fight of the Night (see below) was Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0) vs. Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0), in which Vitruk won a decision in their M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Semifinals Eliminator match.
 
Russian heavyweight Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0) won KO of the Night honors with his opening-round stoppage of Ukrainian Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0).
 
Submission of the Night (see below) was awarded to Russian strongman Alexander “Drago” Volkov (25-6-0), who captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship, for his winning third-round triangle choke Denis Smoldarev (11-2-0), of Estonia.
 

 
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M-1 Challenge 64 Official Results & Pictures

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Shlemenko & Volkov victorious

Alexander Shlemenko’s hands is raised in victory after the decision was announced for his M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament semifinals match against Vyacheslav Vasilevsky


Alexander Volkov captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight title
MOSCOW (February 20, 2016) – Veteran Russian fighters Alexander Shlemenkloand Alexander Volkov were the big winners in M-1 Challenge 64 action last night at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
 
Shlemenko (52-9-0), a three-time Bellator champion, returned to M-1 Global in grand style, winning a close but unanimous decision over former 2-division M-1 Challenge division Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-3-0), of Russia, in their M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament match.  Shlemenko advances to the championship final later this year to face the winner of the other semifinals fight (April 8) at M-1 Challenge 65between reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (13-3-0) and Brazilian Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao (35-8-0). Emeev was the 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year.
 
M-1 Global’s newly signed Alexander “Drago” Volkov (25-6-0), of Russia, captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship, defeating Estonian strongmanDenis Smoldarev (11-2-0) by way of a third-round submission via a triangle choke.
 
In the M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Semifinals Eliminator matches, Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0) and Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0) both won unanimous decisions to advance to the championship final to determine the new M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion.  Vitruk got past his previously undefeated Kazakh opponent Sergey Morozov (6-1-1), while Branchuk got the better of Antun “Killer” Racic (18-7-0), of Croatia.
 
Late replacement Vladimir Kathyhin (32-6-1), of Ukraine, won a decision over American middleweight Joe Ray (13-5-0) in the other main card fight.
 
On the preliminary card, Russian middleweight Magomed Mutaev (7-2-0), Russian welterweight Maksin Grabovich (3-2-0) and Ukrainian featherweight Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev (8-5-0) were all unanimous decision winners, respectively, against UkrainianVadim “Archie” Orischak (5-5-0), German Stefan Larisch (8-4-0) and RussianTimur Nagibin.
 
Russian heavyweight Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0) knocked out Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0), of Ukraine, in the opening round, while Russian middleweight Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasnikov (9-1-1) locked in a rear naked choke on Ukrainian foeVyacheslav “Bison” Bogomol (8-2-0) to win by second-round submission.
 
Complete results and picture gallery below (all winners listed first):
MAIN CARD
 
MAIN EVENT
M-1 GLOBAL GRAND PRIX MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT – SEMIFINALS
Alexander Shlemenko (52-9-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia
WDEC5
Vyacheslav Vaselevsky (27-4-0, M-1: 10-2-0), Russia
(Shlemenko advances to M-1 Global Grand Prix middleweight final)
CO-FEATURE
VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Alexander Volkov (25-6-0, M-1: 9-3-0), Russia
WSUB3 (Triangle Choke – 0:32)
Denis Smoldaraev (11-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Estonia
(Volkov captures M-1 Challenge heavyweight title)
M-1 CHALLENGE BANTAMWEIGHT SEMIFINALS ELIMINATOR
Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Russia
WDEC3
Sergey Morozov (6-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Kazakhstan
Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Antun Racic (18-7-0, M-1: 3-4-0), Croatia
(Vitruk & Branchuk advance to M-1 Challenge bantamweight title fight)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Vladimir Katyhin (32-6-1, M-1: 2-0-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Joe Ray (13-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0, United States
PRELIMINARY CARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0, Russia
WKO1 (4:33)
Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Ukraine
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Magomed Mutaev (7-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Vadim Orischak (5-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia
Valery Myasnikov (9-1-1, M-1: 1-1-1), Russia
WSUB2 (Rear Naked Choke – 2:37)
Vyacheslav Bogomol (5-2-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
Maksin Grabovich (3-2-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Stefan Larisch (8-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Germany
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Andrey Lezhnev (8-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Timur Nagibin (5-2-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
 
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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL:

Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 170 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2016 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition, featuring a full calendar of Challenge events, fueled by a talent-rich contention system to rank M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.
ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV:  Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database.  It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers.  Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!
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M-1 Challenge 64 Official Weights & Pictures WATCH LIVE ON M-1GLOBAL.TV

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Photo gallery below
 
MAIN CARD
 M-1 GLOBAL GRAND PRIX MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT – SEMIFINALS – 5 X 5
Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 184 ½ lbs. (83.8 kg)
vs.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0), Russia 184 ½ lbs. (83.8 kg)
CO-FEATURE
VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0), Russia 236 ½ lbs. (107.5 kg)
vs.
Denis Smoldaraev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0), Estonia 269 ½ lbs. (122.4 kg)
M-1 CHALLENGE BANTAMWEIGHT SEMIFINALS ELIMINATOR – 3 X 5
Pavel Vitruk (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0), Russia 135 lbs. (61.3 kg)
vs.
Sergey Morozov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Kazakhstan 134 lbs. (60.9 kg)
Antun “Killer” Racic (18-6-0, M-1: 3-3-0), Croatia 134 lbs. (61.0 kg)
vs.
Vitaly Branchuk (20-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Ukraine 134 ½ lbs. (61.1 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Joe Ray (13-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0, United States 184 lbs. (83.6 kg)                           
vs.
Vladimir Katyhin (31-6-1, M-1: 1-0-0), Ukraine 183 ½ lbs. (83.4 kg)
PRELIMINARY CARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Kurban Ibragimov (3-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0, Russia 230 lbs. (104.5 kg)
vs.
Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Ukraine 239 ½ lbs. (108.8 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS- 3 X 5
Magomed Mutaev (6-2-0, M-1: 3-0-0),Russia 185 lbs. (84.0 kg)
vs.
Vadim “Archie” Orischak (5-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 184 lbs. (83.6 kg)
Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasnikov (8-1-1, M-1: 0-1-1), Russia 185 lbs. (84.0 kg)
vs.
Vyacheslav “Bison” Bogomol (5-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0) 183 lbs. (83.3 kg)
WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Stefan Larisch (8-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Germany 168 ½ lbs. (76.6 kg)
vs.
Maksin Grabovich (2-2-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 168 lbs. (76.3 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev (7-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0) 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
vs.
Timur Nagibin (5-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
WHAT:             M-1 Challenge 64
WHEN:             Friday, February 19, 2016
 
WHERE:           Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia
 
PROMOTER:     M-1 Global
M-1 Challenge 64 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register atwww.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 170 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2016 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition, featuring a full calendar of Challenge events, fueled by a talent-rich contention system to rank M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.
ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV:  Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database.  It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers.  Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!
M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA

M-1 Challenge 65 rescheduled from March 4 to April 8 in St. Petersburg, Russia Due to scheduling conflict

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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (February 15, 2016) –  M-1 Global has announced that M-1 Challenge 65 has been rescheduled from March 4 to April 8 at Ice Palace Sports Center in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Ice Hockey World Championships will be held this May in St. Petersburg and Moscow.  Many sports venues in St. Petersburg are closed in March due to renovations, resulting in the switched date for M-1 Challenge 65.
In the M-1 Challenge 65 main event, reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev(13-3-0, M-1: 7-1-0) will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao (35-8-0, M-1: 0-0-0) in the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight semifinals match.
The other M-1 Grand Prix middleweight semifinals match is set as three-time Bellator championAlexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0) at this Friday’s (Feb. 19) M-1 Challenge 64 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
The winners of Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky and Emeev vs. Falcao will advance to the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight championship later this year.
In other M-1 Global news, M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui‘s (13-2-0, M-1: 2-2-0) title defense versus challenger Artium Damkovsky (20-9-0, M-1: 10-6-0), has been moved from M-1 Challenge 64 to M-1 Challenge 65.
Replacing Barnaoui vs. Damkovsky on M-1 Challenge 64 is a classic striker-wrestler matchup between American Joe Ray (13-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0) and Nodar Kudukhashvili (10-2-0, M-1: 2-1-0), of Georgia.
M-1 Challenge 64 & 65 will be streamed live from Russia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register atwww.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
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Antun Racic vs. Vitaly Branchuk Bantamweight title eliminator added to stacked M-1 Challenge 64, Feb. 19 in Moscow

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 (R) Antun Racic fires “Killer” strike
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 28, 2016) – M-1 Global’s first event of 2016 is shaping up as a potential blockbuster with the announcement of the second M-1 Challenge bantamweight elimination fight for M-1 Challenge 64 on February 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
Antun “Killer” Racic, of Croatia, will face Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk for right to fight for the vacant M-1 Challenge bantamweight championship.  The survivor will advance to the championship round against the winner of the previously announced M-1 Challenge bantamweight semifinal eliminator, also part of the M-1 Challenge 64card, between  Pavel Vitruk (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0) and undefeated Kazakhstan-native Sergey Morozov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0). Vitruk is a Ukrainian-born fighter who lives and trains out of St. Petersburg, Russia.
 
The main event pits three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko(51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) and former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0) in the semifinals of the M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament.
In the co-feature, newly signed Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0), of Russia, takes on Estonian challenger Denis Smoldaraev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0) for the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship.
Racic (18-6-1, M-1: 6-2-0) is coming off of an impressive win by decision versus Alexei Nevzorov last September at M-1 Challenge 61.  The powerful Croatian, who is a standout grappler, is dropping down to fight as a bantamweight.
Branchuk (20-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0) will be fighting in his second M-1 Global event, the first two years ago at M-1 Challenge 45, in which he lost a decision to Yunus Evloev.  The 24-year-old Branchuk is riding a seven-fight win streak.  Known as a strong striker, he has knocked out 10 of his opponents.
M-1 Challenge 64 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition onwww.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
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Upcoming Events:  Feb. 19 – M-1 Challenge 64 in Moscow, Russia; Mar. 4 – M-1 Challenge 65 in St. Petersburg, Russia
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2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year Ramazan Emeev takes on Maiquel Falcao In M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator Mar. 4 at M-1 Challenge 65 in Moscow

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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 26, 2016) –  Reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao in the second M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator, March 4 at M-1 Challenge 65, in Moscow.
The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0)at M-1 Challenge 64, February 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
The winners of Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky and Emeev vs. Falcao will advance to the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight championship later this year.
“We tried to get the strongest middleweight fighters and did a great job to give fans the most spectacular match-ups,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein said.  “Every single fight is intriguing in M-1 Grand Prix.  I can’t guess how these fights will end up.  Every single fighter has his advantages.  Therefore, I think all of these fights are 50-50.”
Emeev (13-3-0, M-1: 7-1-0), the 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year, is a two-time M-1 Challenge middleweight champion.  Born in Azerbaijan but fighting and training out of Markaxhkala, Russia, Emeev originally captured the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight crown in 2012 at M-1 Challenge 35, winning a decision over Mario Miranda.  Emeev successfully defended his title in a rematch five months later with Miranda, who was stopped via strikes in the third round at M-1 Challenge 38.
In his next title defense, Emeev lost his title belt at M-1 Challenge 51 as Vasilevsky won by fourth-round stoppage via punches.  Seven months later in a rematch, Emeev defeated Vasilevsky by first round submission (choke), and the champion defended his title this past December at M-1 Challenge 63, when American challenger Fioravanti Luigi was unable to continue fighting after two rounds.
Falcao may be making his M-1 Global debut at M-1 Challenge 65, however, the Brazilian black belt holder is a veteran of 43 professional MMA bouts with 23 knockouts.  The 34-year old Falcao split two fights with Vasilevsky and he was stopped by Shlemenko in the second round at Bellator 69.
M-1 Challenge 64 & 65 will be streamed live from Russia in high definition onwww.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.