May 24 at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Sergey Kharitonov

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (May 24, 2018) – MMA living legend Sergey Kharitonov (27-6-0, M-1: 5-0-0) outs his perfect M-1 record on the line today against fellow Russian heavyweight, “Cherepovets Giant” Anton Vyazigin (9-2-1, M-1: 4-1-0), in today’s (May 24) M-1 Challenge 92 main event SuperFight, at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 92 will be live-streamed 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 at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets. M-1 Challenge 92 will also be available on www.FITE.TV(preliminary card is free, $7.99 for the main card)

The 37-year-old Kharitonov has defeated a Who’s Who of some of top heavyweight MMA fighters, including Alister Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo.

Kharitonov had a few last words before the action officially begins:

Sergey, you have had 33 professional MMA during your career and now you are 37 years old. What is your motivation in MMA? Why do you keep fighting?

SK: “Fighting has become an essential part of my life. I literally can’t live without it. I love new challenges, and this is why I compete at different events and now, for example, I have a new challenge: two fights in one week. Tomorrow I have an MMA fight at M-1 Challenge 92 and in a week, I’ve got a kickboxing bout scheduled.

“This is life and we have to take risks, because no risk, no reward. So, I am ready for this. MMA is my passion, but I love kickboxing, too, and now I am interested in competing in both sports.”

It is said that for heavyweights the age of 35 is the prime, because this is the time when heavyweights are usually quite experienced, but still in shape. What do you think about it?

SK: “It all depends. One fighter can reach his prime at 25, another one at 35, but, in my opinion, it depends on his conscious. Take a look at some boxers like George Foreman, who fought until he was 48. Even in lighter divisions there are many examples of successful old fighters like Bernard Hopkins and even Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is not that young today. If you keep training hard, you can fight for a long time.”

Only twice in your career you won by decision. How does it happen that you finish almost all your opponents?

SK: “I always look at my opponent; if he gives me an opportunity to finish him, I do it. I don’t care how I win fights and I have no goal to finish my opponents. The only thing that really matters is the victory.”

Anton Vyazigin has power in his hands. Do you have a plan for the upcoming fight or do you need one?

SK: “My fighting style depends on the situation, but I think tomorrow we are going to have a stand-up fight. At this stage of my career, I do not really change my training camp for new opponents. I have pretty much experience, so I can just enter The Rage and do what I have to do. Nevertheless, I usually watch my opponents’ fights. I watched two fights of Vyazigin and can say that he is a great young athlete with heavy punches. I am very excited because it makes me happy that young guys like him are ready to replace us. Who knows how much time we have left, a year, two, three, maybe even five? These guys have long careers ahead and they have to keep growing and showing their best!”

INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews

@Vadim_finkelchtein

@M1Global

Facebook:

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Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:

May 24 – M-1 Challenge 92: Kharitonov vs. Vyazigin in Saint Petersburg, Russia

June 1 – M-1 Challenge 93: Shelemnko vs. Siva in Chelyabinsk, Russia

May 24 at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia Anton Vyazigin (R) is a powerful heavyweight

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (May 18, 2018) – Russian heavyweight “Cherepovets Giant” Anton Vyazigin (9-2-1, M-1: 4-1-0) challenges MMA living legend Sergey Kharitonov (27-6-0, M-1: 5-0-0) next Thursday (May 24), headlining M-1 Challenge 92 in a heavyweight SuperFight, at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 92 will be live-streamed 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 at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets. M-1 Challenge 92 will also be available onwww.FITE.TV(preliminary card is free, $7.99 for the main card)

The 37-year-old Kharitonov, undefeated in five M-1 Challenge events, has defeated some of the greatest heavyweight MMA fighters of all-time, including Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo.

The 6′ 6″, 265-pound Vyazigin, who is coming off a sensational 16-seconds knockout ofZaur Gadzhibabayev this past March at M-1 Challenge 89, sat in the “hot seat” leading up to Thursday’s showdown to answer some questions:

Tell us about your training camp. Did you change a lot of your regular training methods for a fight against Kharitonov?

AV: “My training camp was no different from any other camp. As always, I had many sparring sessions, wrestled a lot, and was focused on functional training. In general, it was just another camp. I trained at home in Cherepovets, because this is where I belong. I have good relations with fighters from many gyms, but I have never gone anywhere to a training camp. I don’t have enough money to go abroad for a camp, I work for myself.

I feel comfortable training in my gym. I have a great team, including some heavyweights, and we always help each other. If I have a fight scheduled, guys help me; if some other guys have fights, we all help them.”

How much will you weigh for the fight?

AV: “I think this time I will be at least 265 pounds before the fight, maybe even a bit heavier. I would not say I am that huge, there are many guys bigger than me. When I was a child, I used to be skinny and tall and only when I was n the Army did I start to gain weight. Now, when I am 265 pounds. I breath good, and I think this weight is perfect for me.

What are your predictions for the upcoming fight? Are you going to fight Kharitonov standing or would like to take him down?

AV: In our weight class, one missed punch can end the fight, so I think we have equal chances to win this fight. During camp, we train for everything, so I will be ready to fight him standing but, if needed, I will take him down, because it is very important in MMA to be able to change the game plan during the fight.”

Give us your thoughts on the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight title. Do you see yourself as champion in a couple more fights?

AV: “Now, I am concentrated on the upcoming fight but, yes, definitely if I win this fight I will be the No. 1 heavyweight contender. However, I do not think about it right now. My goal is to fight the strongest and most experienced opponents, who are rated higher than me.

“I am not fighting in Saint-Petersburg for the first time and I really enjoy competing in this city. I think some fans will root for Sergey, but there will also be a lot of fans supporting me in the M-1 Arena on May 24th!”

INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews

@Vadim_finkelchtein

@M1Global

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews

Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:

May 24 – M-1 Challenge 92: Kharitonov vs. Vyazigin in Saint Petersburg, Russia

June 1 – M-1 Challenge 93: Shelemnko vs. Silva in Chelyabinsk, Russia

Sergei Kharitonov (R)

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (April 23, 2018)) – Russian heavyweight star Sergei Kharitonov returns to The Rage on May 24 to headline M-1 Challenge 92 at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Kharitonov (27-6-0, M-1: 5-0-0) faces his fellow countryman, upset-minded Anton Vyazigin(9-2-1, M-1: 4-1-0), in this Heavyweight SuperFight.

M-1 Challenge 92 will be live-streamed 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 at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets. M-1 Challenge 92 will also be available onwww.FITE.TV(preliminary card is free, $7.99 for the main card)

The 6′ 4″, 258-pound Kharitonov is undefeated in five M-1 Challenge events having defeated Geronino dos Santos (SUB1 – ankle lock), Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (KO1 – punch), former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Kenny “Deuce” Garner twice, at M-1Challenge 59 in 2015 at Kazakhstan (WTKO1 – punches) and M-1 Challenge 53 in 2013 at China, (KO/TKO3 – injury), and to Alexei Kudin at M-1 Challenge 43 in 2013 Russia (KO2).

The 37-year-old Kharitonov, has defeated some of the greatest heavyweight MMA fighters of all-time, including Alister Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo. Kharitonov has also fought in Strikeforce, K-1, Bellator and PRIDE.

Vyazigin, who stands 6′ 5″ and weights 250-pounds, is coming off a sensational 16-seconds knockout of Zaur Gadzhibabayev this past March at M-1 Challenge 89.

One other main card fight has been announced as striker Giga Kukhalashvili (9-3-0, M-1: 2-0-0) meets undefeated Khadis Ibragimov (3-0-0. M-1: 1-0-0) in a battle of undefeated Russian light heavyweights.

On the preliminary card, French lightweight Mickael “Ragnar” Lebout (17-8-2, 1 NC, M-1: 1-0-0) meets rising Russian prospect Pavel Gordeev (10-1-0, M-1: 4-0-0). Lebout vs. Gordeev was scheduled to happed at M-1 Challenge 87, but Lebout was injured during training camp, forcing the Frenchman out of that fight. Lebout’s M-1 debut at M-1 Challenge 89 resulted in a win by first-round knockout of Sergey Faley. Gordeev is riding a three-fight win streak, all ending in unanimous decisions.

All fighters and fights are subject to change. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will soon be announced.

INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews

@Vadim_finkelchtein

@M1Global

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews

Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:

May 12 – M-1 Challenge 91: Doskalchuk vs. Ashimov, in Shenzhen, China.

May 24 – M-1 Challenge 92: Kharitonov vs. Vyazigin, in Saint Petersburg, Russia