ST. 圣彼得堡, 俄罗斯 (一月 26, 2016) – Reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion 斋月Emeev will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao in the second M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator, 三月 4 在 M-1的挑战 65, 在莫斯科.

The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion 亚历山大 “风暴” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1的: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist 维亚切斯拉夫·华西列夫斯基 (27-3-0, M-1的: 10-1-0)在 M-1的挑战 64, 二月 19 在奥林匹克体育场在莫斯科.

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全球总裁 瓦迪姆·芬克尔希泰因 说. “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. 因此, I think all of these fights are 50-50.”

Emeev (13-3-0, M-1的: 7-1-0), 该 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year, 两届 M-1 挑战赛中量级冠军. Born in Azerbaijan but fighting and training out of Markaxhkala, 俄罗斯, Emeev originally captured the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight crown in 2012 在 M-1的挑战 35, winning a decision over 马里奥·米兰达. 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的挑战 38.

In his next title defense, Emeev lost his title belt at M-1的挑战 51 as Vasilevsky won by fourth-round stoppage via punches. 七个月后 在复赛, Emeev defeated Vasilevsky by first round submission (呛), 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的挑战 65, 然而, the Brazilian black belt holder is a veteran of 43 professional MMA bouts with 23 击倒. The 34-year old Falcao split two fights with Vasilevsky and he was stopped by Shlemenko in the second round at Bellator 69.