Category Archives: M-1 Challenge

M-1 Grand Prix 2016 Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky To headline M-1 Challenge 64, Feb. 19 in Moscow

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 17, 2016) – M-1 Global has officially announced the launching of the 2016 M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament series. The first match will be a showdown at M-1 Challenge 64, February 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow between three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko and former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
The dream battle between Russian favorites Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) and Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0), featuring two of the most respected strikers in the middleweight division, strengthens an already explosive M-1 Challenge 64 card that includes an M-1 Challenge heavyweight title fight.
M-1 Global’s newly-signed Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0), of Russia, battles powerful Estonian challenger Denis Smoldaraev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0) for the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship.
Known as one of the strongest and most popular fighters in Russia, Schlemenko has knocked out 29 opponents, while the equally dangerous Vasilevsky is a five-time combat Sambo World Champion.
 
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.
 
Another previously announced main card match is a M-1 Challenge bantamweight semifinal eliminator, Pavel Vitruk(12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0) facing Sergey Morozov (4-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) with the winner advancing to fight for the vacant M-1 Challenge bantamweight title with the victor of a soon-to-be announced second title eliminator
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Pavel Vitruk vs. Sergey Morozov M-1 Challenge bantamweight semifinal eliminator Added to M-1 Challenge 64, Feb. 19 in Moscow

 
Volkov vs. Smoldaraev for vacant 
M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship
 
Barnaoui defends 
M-1 Challenge lightweight title vs. Damkovsky

(L-R) Sergey Morozov & Pavel Vitruk
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 14, 2016) – Another potentially explosive match has been added to an already top heavy-loaded M-1 Challenge 64, taking place February 19at Olympic Stadium in Moscow, as Pavel Vitruk takes on Sergey Morozov in a special M-1 Challenge bantamweight semifinal eliminator.
The M-1 Challenge 64 headliner finds newly M-1 Global-signed Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0), of Russia, against powerful Estonian challenger Denis Smoldaraev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0) for the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship.
In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui (12-3-0, M-1: 2-2-0), fighting out of Paris, defends his title against Belarussian challengerArtiom Damkovsky (20-9-0, M-1: 10-6-0)
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.
 
A native of Ukraine fighting out of St. Petersburg, Vitruk (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0) is coming off back-to-back losses to American Lee Morrison by decision at M-1 Challenge 55 and Max Coga by third-round decision at M-1 Challenge 58.  Representing the famed Alexander Nevsky Club in St. Petersburg, Vitruk has a strong Muay Thai foundation.  After fighting exclusively as a featherweight, Vitruk has decided to drop down one weight class and compete as a bantamweight.
 
 
Pavel Vitruk (R) displays his effective jab to set-up his other moves
 
The 26-year-old Morozov (4-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) is coming off a pair of impressive second-round stoppages via punches over Andy Young at M-1 Challenge 59 and Rijitigala Amuat M-1 Challenge 53.  The Kazakh is a hot bantamweight prospect who is equally comfortable on his feet or on the ground.
 

 
Morozov is shown here ready to unload on his opponent
 
The winner of Vitruk vs. Morozov will advance to fight the victor from a soon-to-be announced second title eliminator for the vacant M-1 Challenge bantamweight title.
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Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui To defend M-1 Challenge lightweight title vs. Artiom Damkovsky  

 

Alexander Volkov vs. Denis Smoldaraev for
Vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship 
M-1 Challenge 64, Feb. 19 in Moscow
(L-R) Artiom Damkovsky & Mansour Barnaoui
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (December 29, 2015) — M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui will make his first title defense, February 19 at Olympic Stadium, against Artiom Damkovsky at M-1 Challenge 64 in Moscow, Russia.
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 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.
In a previously announced title fight, newly M-1 Global-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.
Barnaoui (12-3-0, M-1: 2-2-0), fighting out of 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, May 2, 2015 atM-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.
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M-1 Global signs Heavyweight Alexander Volkov   Volkov vs. Smoldarev M-1 Challenge heavyweight title fight   M-1 Challenge 64, Feb. 19 in Moscow

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (December 15, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced its signing of Russian heavyweight sensation Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0) to an exclusive promotional contract.
Volkov will battle Denis Smoldarev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0) February 19 for the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship at M-1 Challenge 64 in Moscow, Russia.
The 27-year-old puncher from Moscow returns to the organization in which he made his professional mixed-martial-arts debut April 19, 2009, needing only 80-seconds to stop Nikolay Pleshokov in the second stage of the M-1 Challenge 2009.  Volkov went on to capture top honors in the finals of the M-1 Challenge 2009, defeating Ibragim Magomedov for the Russian Team Championships.
The 6′ 7″, 235-pound Volkov fought under the M-1 Global banner for the next two years, highlighted November 20, 2011 by his opening round punch-out of  in front of 20,000 fans at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson.
At that point, Volkov had won 14 of 17 pro MMA fights and the popular Russian fighter opened 2012 with an impressive decision win over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez.
Volkov had another victory before heading to the United States in order to test himself in Bellator competition.   He won his inaugural Bellator fight against powerful Brett Rogers, by decision at Bellator 75, in the Bellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament.
Two Bellator fights later, Volkov had extended his win streak to 10 in a row, improving overall to 19-3-0 via five-round decision over Richard Hale to capture the vacant Bellator Heavyweight Championship, as well as finish first in the Bellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament in Hammond, Indiana, USA.
In his first fight of 2013, Volkov lost his Bellator heavyweight title in his first defense, as fellow countryman Vitaly Minakov recorded a first-round knockout in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
However, Volkov rebounded with three straight wins in the Bellator Season 10 Heavyweight Tournament, defeating Bulgarian great Blaygoy Ivanov in the final by way of a second-round rear-naked choke hold.  Ivanov is best known, perhaps, for defeating living legend Fedor Emelianenko in the semifinals on his way to winning the 2008 World Sambo Championships.
Feared as one of the most prolific strikers in MMA today, 17 of Volkov’s 24 overall victims to date were knocked out.
Volkov (pictured above to left) makes his M-1 Global return against Smoldarev, of Estonia, whose only loss as a professional was to Marcin Tybura (13-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0), who abdicated his M-1 Challenge heavyweight title to reportedly continue his career in the UFC.  Tybura made his first successful M-1 Challenge heavyweight title defense November 24, 2014, defeating Smoldarev by third-round submission (choke), at M-1 Challenge 54 in Beijing, China.
The 25-year-old Smoldarev (shown above in the black trunks) has impressive victories against Ante Delia, Maro Perak, Ahmed Sultanov and Shaban Ka.  Smoldarev is also a physical specimen, standing 6′ 5″ and weighing close to 270 pounds.
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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M-1 Challenge 63 bonus performances announced

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (December 9, 2015) – M-1 Global announced its fighter bonus performances for last Friday night’s M-1 Challenge 63 at the Sports and Concert Complex in St. Petersburg, Russia:
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
 
Viktor Nemkov-Stephan Puetz 2
Viktor Nemkov (23-5-0, 4 KO/.TKO, 9 SUB – M-1: 13-4-0), who fights out of Stary Oskol, Russia, recaptured the M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title from the German fighter who took it from him 1 ½  years ago, Stephan “T-800” Puetz (13-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), by way of another exciting, hard-fought five-round decision.
 
KO OF THE NIGHT
  
Raul Tutarauli
Georgian light heavyweight Raul Tutarauli (6-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) finished off Russian Alexey “Ataman” Makhno (10-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) in the second round.
SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT
 
Mikhail Kuznetsov
Russian featherweight Mikhail Kuznetsov (5-1-0) used a rear-naked choke to force a tap-out from Ukrainian Stanislav “White Warrior” Reutsky (8-5-0) in the second.
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Nemkov decisions Puetz in exciting rematch Recaptures M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title   Emeev stops Fioravanti Retains M-1 Challenge middleweight crown   M-1 Challenge 63 OFFICIAL RESULTS

New M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Viktor Nemkov is crowned
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (December 4, 2015) – In a much anticipated rematch, Viktor Nemkov recaptured the coveted M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title, winning a hard-fought five-round decision over defending champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz, in the M-1 Challenge 63 main event, at the Sports and Concert Complex in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev successfully defended his crown, as American challenger Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti was unable to continue after four rounds.
M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev retained his title
Undefeated in four previous M-1 Global fights to date, Puetz (13-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) captured the M-1 Challenge title 1 ½ years ago with an entertaining five-round split decision over defending champion Nemkov, who was making his first title defense after having defeated Vasily Babich (SUB2 – arm-lock) two years ago for the vacant title.
 
Puetz came into his rematch with Nemkov off a sensational SuperFight victory this past May against M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura, whose severely broken nose halted the action in the third round at M-1 Challenge 57.
 
Kazakhstan-native Nemkov, who fights out of Stary Oskol, Russia, had won two straight fights since he lost to Puetz, of Germany, including an impressive decision in his last action over always tough Maro Perak.
Two-time M-1 Challenge middleweight champion, Emeev (13-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 6 SUB) is a native of Dagestan who fights out of Makhachkala, Russia.  He first won the M-1 Challenge championship in 2012 at M-1 Challenge 35, taking a decision from Mario Miranda, who Emeev defeated four months later by third-round knockout at M-1 Challenge 38. At M-1 Challenge 51, Emeev was stopped in the fourth round by Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, who lost the title back to Emeev by fifth-round submission this past April at M-1 Challenge 56.
Fioravanti (26-14-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), representing American Top Team, is a popular fighter out of Orlando, Florida.  He was coming off a second-round win by submission (choke) last July against Sergey Kovalev at M-1 Challenge 59.
Georgian light heavyweight Raul Tutarauli (6-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) registered a huge upset, knocking out Russian Alexey “Ataman” Makhno (10-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) in the second round.
Russian light heavyweight prospect Rashid Yusupov (7-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) remained undefeated, taking a three-round unanimous decision from German foe Martin “King Kong” Zawada (26-14-1, 16 KO/TKO, 5 SUB)).
Unbeaten featherweights Mikhail Korobkov (9-0-1, 1 KO/TKO, 6 SUB), of Russia, and Brazilian invader Rodrigo Magalhaes (7-0-1, 0 KO/TKO, 6 SUB) fought to a three-round draw.
In preliminary card action, veteran Ukrainian lightweight Alexander Butenko (39-11-2) and Russian featherweight Zalimbek Omarov (6-1-1) won three-round unanimous decision, respectively, over Heydar Mammadaleiv (8-2-0), of Azerbaijan, and Ukrainian Artem “Iron” Lezhnev (7-5-0).  Ruslan Shamilov (1-0-0) stopped Bulat Zhumabatov (0-1-0) in the second round (doctor’s stoppage) in a Super Cup St. Petersburg match between Russian middleweights.
Also fighting on the preliminary card, Russian middleweight Vasily Zubkov (9-4-0) won a hard fought three-round split decision from pro-debuting Uzbekistan-native Sarvar Iskhakov, fighting out of Russia, Russian welterweight Damila Prikaza (2-0-1) stopped experienced Ukrainian Artem “Shockwave” Shokalo (13-14-0), and Russian featherweight Mikhail Kuznetsov (5-1-0) defeated Ukrainian opponent Stanislav “White Warrior” Reutsky (8-5-) by way of a rear naked choke for a second-round submission.
Complete results and photo gallery below (all winners listed first):
 
MAIN CARD
M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Viktor Nemkov (23-5-0), Russia
WDEC5
Stephan Puetz Puetz (13-2-0), Germany
(Nemkov recaptured M-1 Challenge middleweight title)
M-1 CHALLENGE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Ramazan Emeev (13-3-0), Russia
Luigi Fioravanti (26-14-0), USA
(Emeev retain M-1 Challenge middleweight title)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Rashid Yusupov (7-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Martin Zawada (26-13-0), Germany
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Raul Tutarauli (5-2-0), Georgia
WKO/TKO2 (punches – 6:29)
Alexey Makhno, Russia
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Mikhail Korobkov (9-0-1), Russia
DRAW3
Rodrigo Magalhaes (7-0-1), Brazi
PRELIMINARY CARD
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Ruslan Shamilov (1-0-0), Russia
WKO/THO2 (doctor’s stoppage – 2:15)
Bulat Zhumabatov (0-1-0), Russia
Sarvar Iskhakov (4-2-0), Russia
Vasily Zubkov (8-4-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
Damila Prikaza (2-0-0), Russia
WKO/TKO1 (punches – 2:15)
Artem Shokalo (13-14-0), Ukraine
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Alexander Butenko (39-11-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Heydar Mammadaliev (8-2-0), Azerbaijan
FEATHERWEIGHT
Zalimbek Omarov (6-1-1), Russia
WDEC3
Andrey Lezhnev (8-5-0), Ukraine
Mikhail Kuzenetsov (4-0-0), Russia
WSUB2 (rear naked choke – 3:00)
Stanislav Reutsky (4-2-0), Ukraine
 
(L-R) Puetz vs. Nemkov
 
 (L-R) Puetz vs. Nemkov
 

(L-R) Nemkov vs. Puetz
 

(L-R) Fioravanti vs. Emeev
 

 

Emeev punished Fioravanti
Alexey Makhno & Raul Tutarauli
 

Andrey Lezhnev & Zalimbek Omarov
Bulat Zhumabatov & Ruslan Shamilov
 

Alexander Butenko vs. Heydar Mammadaliev
 

M-1 Challenge Medieval Knight Fight between Dmitry Kovrizhin & Evgeniy Bedenko
Rodrigo Magalhaes & Mikhail Korobkov fought to a draw
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M-1 Challenge 63 WATCH LIVE ON M-1GLOBAL.TV OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN CARD

M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
STEPHAN “T-800” PUETZ (13-1-0), Champion, Germany 204 ½ lbs. (92.9 kg)
VIKTOR NEMKOV (22-5-0), Challenger, Russia 205 lbs. (93 kg)

M-1 CHALLENGE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5X 5
RAMAZAN EMEEV (12-3-0), Champion, Russia 185 lbs. (84 kg)
LUIGI “The Italian Tank” FIORAVANTI (26-13-0), Challenger, USA 184 ½ lbs. (83.7 kg)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
MARTIN “King Kong” ZAWADA (26-12-0), Germany 204 ½ lbs. (92.8 kg)
RASHID YUSUPOV (6-0-0), Russia 204 lbs. (92.7 kg)

LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

ALEXEY “AtaMAN” MAKHNO (10-3-0), Russia 155 ½ lbs. (70.7 kg)
RAUL TUTARAULI (5-2-0), Georgia 156 lbs. (70.8 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
MIKHAIL KOROBKOV (9-0-0), Russia, 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)                                    
RODRIGO MAGALHAES (7-0-0), Brazil 14 lbs. (65.5 kg)
PRELIMINARY CARD

M-1 CHALLENGE MEDIEVAL KNIGHT FIGHT LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
DMITRY KOVRIZHIN (4-0-0), Russia lbs. ( kg)
EVGENIY BEDENKO (7-1-0), Russia lbs. ( kg)
 
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
RUSLAN SHAMILOV (pro debut), Russia184lbs. (83.5 kg)
BUTAT ZHUMABATOV (pro debut), Russia 185 lbs. (83.9 kg.)

SARVAR “Bek” ISKHAKOV
(4-2-0), Russia 182 lbs. (82.6 kg)
VASILY “Vasia” ZUBKOV (8-4-0), Russia 183 ½ lbs. (83.4 kg)

WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
ARTEM “Shockwave” SHOKALO (13-13-0), Ukraine, 170 lbs. (77.1 kg)
DAMILA PRIKAZA (1-0-0), Russia, 170 lbs. (77.1 kg)

LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
ALEXANDER BUTENKO (38-11-0), Ukraine 154 lbs. (70 kg)
HEYDAR MAMMADALIEV (8-1-0), Azerbaijan 154 lbs. (70 kg)

FEATHERWEIGHT – 3 X 5
ANDREY “Iron” LEZHNEV (8-4-0), Ukraine 144 lbs. (65.6 kg)
ZALIMBEK OMAROV (5-1-1), Russia, 144 ½ lbs. (65.7 kg)
STANISLAV “White Warrior” REUTSKY (4-2-0), Ukraine 144 lbs. (65.3 kg)
MIKHAIL KUZNETSOV

(4-0-0), Russia 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________
WHAT:             M-1 Challenge 63
 
WHEN:            Friday, December 4, 2015
                        
START TIMES: 11:00 a.m. (New York City), 7:00 p.m. (Moscow)
WHERE:           Sports and Concert Complex in St. Petersburg, Russia 1:30
PROMOTER:    M-1 Global
LIVE STREAM: WWW.M1GLOBAL.TV
 
M-1 Challenge 63 will be streamed live from St. Petersburg 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.
 
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 63 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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M-1 Medieval Knight Fight added to stacked M-1 Challenge 63, Dec 4 in St. Petersburg, Russia

 

WATCH LIVE ON WWW.M1GLOBAL.TV

 
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (November 24, 2015) – An already stacked M-1 Challenge 63got even more entertaining with M-1 Global’s announced addition of the inaugural M-1 Challenge Knight Fighting Lightweight Championship. 
 
Russian knight fighters Dmitry Kovrizhin (4-0-0) and Evgeniy Bedenko (7-1-0) battle on the preliminary card for the first M-1 Challenge Medieval title, December 4 at the Sports and Concert Complex in St. Petersburg, Russia.
 
Rising MMA star Stephan “T-800” Puetz (13-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) defends his M-1 Challenge light heavyweight crown against former champion Viktor Nemkov (22-5-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 SUB)., Also featured on the main card is another title fight as M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (12-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 SUB) faces American challenger Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti (26-13-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 SUB).
Kovrizhin, representing the Bern Fight Club in Moscow, was a member of the 2014 and 2015 World Champion Team.  He stopped Roman Zuevearly in his M-1 Challenge 60 fight.
 
Bedenko (pictured to left) was a winner at the White Castle and Battle of Nations. He won impressively atM-1 Challenge 56, where he defeated Ivan Vasilev.
 
Three other fights on the main card pits German light heavyweight Martin “King Kong” Zawada (26-12-0, 16 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) vs. Russian Rashid Yusupov (6-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), Russian lightweight Alexey “Ataman” Makhho (10-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) vs. Georgian Raul Tutarauli (5-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), and Russian featherweight Mikhail Korobkov (9-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 6 SUB) vs. Brazilian foe Rodrigo “Delegado” Magalhaes(7-0-0, 6 SUB).
 
Two other fights have been announced for the preliminary card: Ukraine veteran lightweightAlexander Butenko (38-11-0, 4 KO/TKO, 24 SUB) meets Heydar Mamadaliev (8-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), of Azerbaijan, while Russian middleweights Ruslan Shamilov andButat Zhumabatov make their professional debuts against each other.
 
M-1 Challenge 63 will be streamed live from St. Petersburg 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.
 
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 63 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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Makhno vs. Tutarauli, Zawada vs. Yusupov Added to loaded M-1 Challenge 63 card Headlined by two M-1 Challenge title fights Puetz vs. Nemkov II, Emeev vs. Fioravanti

Dec. 4 in St. Petersburg, Russia

 
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (November 16, 2015) – Featuring a pair of title fights, M-1 Challenge 63 is shaping up as possibly the best M-1 Global event of the year.
 
M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz (13-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) defends his title against former champion Viktor Nemkov (22-5-0, 4 KO/TKO, 9 SUB), while M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (12-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 SUB( meets American challenger Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti (26-13-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), December 4 at the Sports and Concert Complex in St. Petersburg, Russia.
 
M-1 Global has announced two other main card bouts as German light heavyweight Martin “King Kong” Zawada faces Russian Rashid Yusupov and Russian light weight Alexey “Ataman” Makho takes on Raul Tutarauli, of Georgia.
 
M-1 Challenge 63 will be streamed live from St. Petersburg 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.
 
 
Zawada (26-13-0, 16 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) is an experienced fighter who was a KSW Grand Prix finalist, as well as two-time German champion.   Known as a dangerous striker, Yusupov is a hot prospect with title fight aspirations.
                      
         Yusupov unloading a kick                                        Zawada ready to strike
Makhno (10-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) and Tutarauli (5-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) are both hot fighters, winning six and four in a row, respectively.  A regional champion in Russia, Makhno prefers stand-up fighting and striking.  Tutarauli is a rising knockout artist who is known for his excellent conditioning and stamina.
                                       
Makhno (top) and Tutarauli (below) are shown celebrating victories
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 63 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Additional fights will soon be announced by M-1 Global.
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M-1 Challenge title fights announced Puetz vs. Nemkov II, Emeev vs. Fioravanti M-1 Challenge 63, Dec. 4 in St. Petersburg, Russia


(L-R) Viktor Nemkov & Stephan Puetz from their first M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title fight
(photo gallery below)
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (November 3, 2015) – M-1 Global has announced twin M-1 Challenge title fights as light heavyweight champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz takes on former champion Viktor Nemkov and middleweight titlist Ramazan Emeev faces American challenger Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti in the rescheduled M-1 Challenge 63 to be held December 4 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 63
will be streamed live from St. Petersburg 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.
 
Puetz (13-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), arguably MMA’s the hottest light heavyweight fighter today, is coming off a sensational SuperFight victory this past May against M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura, whose severely broken nose halted the action in the third round at M-1 Challenge 57.
 
Undefeated in four M-1 Global fights to date, Puetz captured the coveted M-1 Challenge title 1 ½ years ago with a hard fought five-round split decision over defending champion Nemkov, who was making his first title defense after having defeated Vasily Babich (SUB2 – arm-lock) two years ago for the vacant title.
 
Fighting out of Munich, Germany, Puetz defeated Valery Myasnikov (TKO2 – punches) and Luis Fernando Mirando (SUB2 – choke) in his two title defenses to date.
Kazakhstan-native Nemkov, who fights out of Stary Oskol, Russia, has won two in a row since losing to Puetz, including an impressive decision in his last action over always tough Maro Perak this past December.
An M-1 Global veteran with 12 victories in 16 M-1 fights, Nemkov lost his original M-1 title fight back in 2011, losing by submission (choke) to Vinny Magalhaes.
A two-time and reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion, Emeev (12-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 SUB) is a native of Dagestan who fights out of Makhachkala, Russia. He first won the M-1 Challenge championship in 2012 at M-1 Challenge 35, taking a decision fromMario Miranda, who Emeev defeated four months later by third-round knockout at M-1 Challenge 38.
At M-1 Challenge 51, Emeev was topped in the fourth round byVyacheslav Vasilevsky, who lost the title back to Emeev by fifth-round submission this past April at M-1 Challenge 56.
Fioravanti (26-13-0, 10 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), representing American Top Team, is a popular fighter out of Orlando, Florida. His last fight was a second-round win by submission (choke) last July against Sergey Kovalev at M-1 Challenge 59.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 63 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Additional fights will soon be announced by M-1 Global.

Puetz (L) strikes Tybura

Puetz has been unbeatable in M-1 Global competition, shining here vs. Tybura

Puetz finishes off Valery Myasnikov

 

Nemkov had position on Puetz

Nemkov (R) kicks Perak

Nemkov punishes Perak


Emeev has position on Vasilevsky


Emeev (L) vs. Vasilevsky

Luigi Fioravanti (R) unloads on his opponent

Fioravanti ends the show vs. Kovalev
Information

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