ST. ΠΕΤΡΟΥΠΟΛΗ, Ρωσία (Ιανουάριος 26, 2016) – Reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ραμαζάνι Emeev will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao in the second M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator, Μάρτιος 4 στο Μ-1 Πρόκληση 65, στη Μόσχα.

The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion Αλέξανδρος “Καταιγίδα” Shlemenko (51-9-0, Μ-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, Μ-1: 10-1-0)στο Μ-1 Πρόκληση 64, Φεβρουάριος 19 στο Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο στη Μόσχα.

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,” Μ-1 Παγκόσμια πρόεδρος Vadim Finkelchtein είπε. “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. Επομένως, I think all of these fights are 50-50.”

Emeev (13-3-0, Μ-1: 7-1-0), ο 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year, είναι ένας δύο-χρόνος Μ-1 πρόκληση middleweight πρωτοπόρος. Born in Azerbaijan but fighting and training out of Markaxhkala, Ρωσία, Emeev originally captured the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight crown in 2012 στο Μ-1 Πρόκληση 35, winning a decision over Mario Miranda. Emeev successfully defended his title in a rematch πέντε μήνες αργότερα with Miranda, who was stopped via strikes in the third round at Μ-1 Πρόκληση 38.

In his next title defense, Emeev lost his title belt at Μ-1 Πρόκληση 51 as Vasilevsky won by fourth-round stoppage via punches. Επτά μήνες αργότερα σε ένα rematch, Emeev defeated Vasilevsky by first round submission (εμφράκτης), 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 Μ-1 Πρόκληση 65, ωστόσο, 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.