ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (May 13, 2015) – Brazilian invader Igor “Chatubinha” Fernandes will battle Russian foe Murad “Hunter” Abdulaev on June 6 for the vacant M-1 Challenge welterweight title, headlining M-1 Challenge 58: Battle in the Mountains 4, at Ingushetia, Russia.
Fernandes (18-6-0, 2 KO/TKO, 13 SUB), who has won his last six fights, will be making his M-1 debut against Abdulaev (14-3-1, 5 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), who is unbeaten in two M-1 Challenge fights.
During the past few years, Fernandes has been too dangerous for many fighters to take on, leaving him inactive for the past 26 months. The gifted welterweight immediately deserved and received a title shot upon signing with M-1 Global.
Abdulaev has won 11 of his last 12 fights. A dangerous striker with a solid ground game, Abdulaev is coming off an impressive knockout win over Daniel Tabera last October at M-1 Challenge 52.
The M-1 Challenge welterweight championship was vacated by Rashid Magomedov who left the promotion.
A pair of potentially explosive featherweight fights have also been announced for M-1 Challenge 58 as American Lee “American Bulldog” Morrison faces Pavel Vitruk, and Antun Racic meets Tural Ragimov.
Morrison (13-5-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, fighting out of Okanogon Washington, is out to snap his two-fight losing streak to Ragimov (SUB1 – arm-lock) at M-1 Challenge 49 last June and a five-round decision to defending champion Marat Gufurov for the M-1 Challenge title at M-1 Challenge 47. The physically strong, experienced American fighter is planning a rebound June 6.
Last February at M-1 Challenge 55, Vitruk (12-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) lost at M-1 Challenge 55 in a battle of unbeaten fighters to Max Coga by way of a third-round submission (choke). The Ukraine native who lives in St. Petersburg, Russia is a Muay Thai specialist.
Racic (17-5-0, 13 SUB) is a young, Croatian prospect who has won his last four fights in a row. He prefers to use his vast arsenal of submission moves. In his last fight, Racic defeated Lemmi Krusic (16-4-0), of Slovenia, this past October.
Ragimov (9-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) earned a title shot after he defeated Morrison, in which he lost to M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger last October at M-1 Challenge 52. In the Fight of the Night, Ragimov was stopped by punches in the fourth round, after suffering a fractured and displaced finger on his left hand, as well as torn ligaments in his right hand.
M-1 Challenge 58 will be streamed live 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 Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.
All fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional fights to soon be announced.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 57 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable 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.
Information
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