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And still champion…….Alexey Kuchenko (R) |
M-1 CHALLENGE 90 RESULTS
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (March 31, 2018) – M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko improved his professional MMA record to a perfect 18-0-0, stopping Russian challenger Alexander “Iron Capture” Butenko in the third round of last night’s M-1 Challenge 9- main event, at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The 33-year-old Kunchenko (17-0-0, M-1: 10-0-0), also fighting out of Russia, has been the M-1 Challenge welterweight champion for nearly two years, when he knocked out Murad Abdulaev in the fourth round at M-1 Challenge 65. Kunchenko notched his 13th knockout against former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Butenko (45-13-3, M-1: 11-3-1) in the third round on punches in his fourth successful title defense.
In the co-featured event, American veteran Joe “Diesel Riggs (47-18-1, M-1: 2-0-1) and Ukrainian middleweight Boris Polejay (18-6-1, M-1: 2-1-1) battled to a three-round split draw.
Brazilian flyweight Raphael Dias (15-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0) used an arm triangle choke to defeated former M-1 Challenge flyweight title challenger Vadim “Bad Santa” Malygin (12-4-1, M-1: 2-3-1), of Russia, for a second-round victory by submission.
Russian prospect Magomedkamil Malikov (5-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) kept his perfect pro record intact, punching out Sado “The Panther” Ucar (5-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), of Turkey, in the second round of a match contested at a catchweight.
In the main card opening fight, Russian middleweight Oleg Olenichev (10-5-0, M-1: 1-2-0) took a unanimous decision over Salmar “Sombra” Nunes (35-13-1, M-1: 0-1-0), of Brazil.
Most of the preliminary card action took place on that mat with five eight matches ending in submissions. Frenchman Bakary El Anwar (6-5-0, M-1: 1-0-0) won his M-1 Global debut with an ankle hook on Russian light heavyweight Alexander Popov (2-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0) for an opening-round submission, Russian light heavyweight Dmitry Tebekin (9-3-0, M-1: 3-1-0) took a majority decision over Abylkasym Yakubob (4-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), of Kyrgyzstan, and Yakibob’s countryman, Nureles Aidarov (3-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0), made the most of his M-1 Global debut, knocking out Russian Oleg Lichkovakha (3-3-0, 2 NC, M-1: 0-2-0, 1 NC) with a knee in round one.
In a battle of pro-debuting Russian middleweights at a catchweight, Vladimir Trisov‘s anaconda choke was too much to handle for Vyacheslay Babkin, Russian welterweight Movsar Bokov (4-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0) registered a submission win by way of a second-round submission versus Georgian Levan Solodovnik (5-3-0, M-1: 1-2-0) via an angle lock, and Russian lightweight Kurban Taygibov (7-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0) toon a unanimous decision fromLom-Ali Nalgiev (14-7-0, M-1: 5-2-0), of Russia.
In a match-up between a pair of undefeated lightweights, Russian Roman Bogatov (5-0-0, M-1; 4-0-0) submitted Tahir “Tank” Abdullaev (6-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), of Azerbaijan, in the second round with an arm triangle choke. French featherweight Damien Peltier (9-8-1, M-1: 1-0-0) had an impressive M-1 Global debut, locking in a triangle choke on Maksim Kuldashev (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0) for a second-round triumph.
Ten different countries were represented by fighters in this International event: Russia, USA, Ukraine, Brazil, Turkey, France, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Complete results & picture gallery below:
MAIN CARD
MAIN EVENT — M-1 CHALLENGE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Alexey Kunchenko (18-0-0, M-1: 10-0-0), Champion, Russia
WTKO3 (Punches – 4:04)
Alexander Butenko (45-13-3, M-1: 11-3-1), Challenger, Russia
(Kunchenko retains M-1 Challenge welterweight title)
CO-FEATURE – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Joe Riggs (47-17-1, 1 NV, M-1: 2-0-1), USA
D3
Boris Polejay (18-6-1, M-1: 2-1-1), Ukraine
FLYWEIGHTS
Rafael Dias (15-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Brazil
SUB2 (Arm Triangle Choke – 4:39)
Vadim Malygin (12-4-1, M-1: 2-3-1), Russia
CATCHWEIGHT
Magomedkamil Malikov (5-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia
WTKO2 (Punches – 0:30)
Sado Ucar (5-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Turkey
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Oleg Olenichev (109-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia
WDEC3
Salmar Nunes (35-13-1, 1 NC, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil
PRELIMINARY CARD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Bakary El Anwar (6-5-0, M-1: 1-0-0), France
WSUB1 (0:27)
Alexander Popov (2-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia
Dmitry Tebekin (9-3-0, M-1: 3-1-0)
DEC3
Abylkasym Yakubov (4-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Kyrgyzstan
CATCHWEIGHT
Nureles Aidarov (3-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Kyrgyzstan
WKO1 (Knee kick – 0:12)
Oleg Lichkovakha (3-3-0, 2 NC, M-1: 0-2-0, 1 NC)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Vladimir Trusov (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0)), Russia
Wseb1 (Anaconda Choke – 2:48)
Vyacheslav Babkin (0-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
Movsar Bokov (4-1-0, M-1:3-1-0), Russia
WSUB2 (Ankle Lock – 1:35)
Levan Solodovnik (5-3-0, M-1: 1-2-0), Georgia
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Kurban Taygibov (7-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0)
WDEC3
Lom-Ali Nalgiev (14-7-0, M-1: 5-2-0), Russia
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Roman Bogatov (5-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia
WSUB2 (Arm Triangle Choke – 1:21)
Tahir Abdullaev (6-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Azerbaijan
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Damien Peltier (9-8-1, M-1: 1-0-0), France
WSEB2 (Triangle Choke – 4:55)
Maksim Kuldashev (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Uzbekistan
Polejay (L) & Riggs battled to a draw
Dias (R) got a kick out of Malygin
Olenichev (L) edged Nunes
Aidarov (R) showed concern for his fallen opponent Lichkovakha
Kunchenko (R) is a lethal striker with 12 KOs in 17 pro fights
Past M-1 Challenge events have featured leading Finnish fighters over the years such as Marcus “Caveman” Vanttinen (pictured on left), Juha-Pekka Vainikainen, Niko Puhakka, Janne Tulirinta, Toni Valtonen and Lucio “Spartan” Linares. Some of these fighters will be competing
Mikael “Hulk” Silander (16-5-0, M-1:0-0-0), 31, has an appropriate nickname. Powerfully built and possessing explosive physical force, he puts pressure on his rivals from the first second of the battle, using his grappling skills to his full advantage. Having won 15 of his 20 fights, Silander is matched against M-1 Challenge title challenger Viali Branchuk (22-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0), of Ukraine,
Valtonen (27-15-0, M-1: 6-2-0) returns to M-1 action against Ukrainian heavyweight Boris “Bora” Polezhay(16-6-0, M-1: 1-1-0. Valtonen has been an MMA fighter for 14 years and for much of that time-period he has been one of the stars of Finnish MMA-promotion, Fight Festival, which was successful at the 2009 M-1 World Championship Challenge. Valtonen fought in KSW and Shooto competitions. Another Helsinki native on the M-1 Challenge 82, Valtonen figures to have tremendous support at Hartwell Arena.
Binh is always in great physical shape and he has very good stamina. All eight of his fights went the distance but none were boring. In a contest against another Swedish prospect, Bilal Musa, Bing fractured his leg at the beginning of the second round, yet fought through the paid to earn victory by way of a three-round decision. In his very interesting M-1 debut against Emin Guseyov, who has an excellent strike technique. Binh used his wrestling and grappling skills, which he was taught by coach Babak Nejad, who also trains UFC star Anthony Johnson, to win a three-round decision.