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.
Information
Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
|
Tag Archives: Georgia
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
Information
Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
|
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.
Information
Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
|
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.
Information
Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
|
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.
Information
Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
|
M-1 Challenge 55: In Memory of Guram Gugenishvili: OFFICIAL RESULTS
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
M-1 Challenge 55: Guram Gugenishvili Memorial Show OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
WATCH LIVE ON M-1GLOBAL.TV |
MAIN CARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 MARO PERAK (23-4-1), Croatia, 216 lbs. (98.1 kg) DENIS SMOLDAREV (9-1-0), Estonia, 266 ½ lbs. (121 kg)
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 KENNY “Deuce” GARNER (14-8-0), United States, 263 lbs. (119.5 kg) ASLAMBEK “Titan” MUSAEV (5-1-0), Chechnya, 211 lbs. (95.8 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 NODAR KUDUKHASHVILI (7-1-0), Georgia, 182 ½ lbs. (82.9 kg) LUIGI “The Italian Tank” FIORAVANTI (25-12-0), United States, 184 ½ lbs. (83.9 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 PAVEL VITRUK (12-0-0), Ukraine, 145 lbs. (65.8 kg) MAX COGA (10-3-0), Germany, 144 ½ lbs. (65.5 kg)
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 LEVAN “Zangrief” RAZMADZE (5-0-0), Georgia, 275 lbs. (124.9 kg) ARSEN ABDULKERIMOV (7-2-0), Russia, 250 lbs. (113.6 kg)
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 ARTIOM DAMKOVSKY (19-0-0), Belarus, 154 lbs. (70.1 kg) HEYDAR MAMEDALIYEV (7-0-0), Azerbaijan, 157 lbs. (71.3 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 ENOC SOLVES TORRES (15-8-0), Spain * IBRAGIM TIBILOS (7-2-0), Russia *
PRELIMINARY CARD
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 ARTUR ALIEV (1-0-0 ), Russia, 153 lbs. (69.7 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 SHAMIL ALIBEKOV (1-0-0 ), Russia, 142 ½ lbs. (64.8 kg) SOSO NIZHARADZE (pro debut), Georgia, 142 ½ lbs. (64.8 kg)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 LUKASZ BOROWSKI (3-2-0), Poland, 200 ½ lbs. (91.1 kg) BATRAZ AGNAEV (1-0-0), Russia, 204 lbs. (92.6 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 ARTEM FROLOV (2-0-0), Russia, 183 ½ lbs. (83.4 kg) ARTUR ODDILOBEKOV (2-3-0), Tajikistan *
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5 KURBANANALI ABDUSALAMOV (3-2-0), Russia, 145 lbs. (65.8 kg) ARCHIL TAZIASHVILI (0-1-0), Georgia, 143 lbs. (65.1 kg)
*Fighters hadn’t arrived yet in Tbilisi due to bad weather
WHAT: M-1 Challenge 55: Guram Gugenishvili Memorial Show
WHEN: Saturday, February 21, 2015 10:00 a.m. (New York City), 6:00 p.m. (Moscow)
WHERE: Tbilisi, Georgia 1:30
PROMOTER: M-1 Global
LIVE STREAM: WWW.M1GLOBAL.TV
M-1 Challenge 55 will be streamed live from Georgia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the fights by logging on to register at 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 also watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets. The entire card will also be broadcast live, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET, on Fight Network viaCablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, and on Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Information
Twitter & Instagram: @VadimFinkelchtein @M1GlobalNews
Facebook:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and matchups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global’s Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global’s greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.
ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime! |
M-1 Challenge 55 card getting stacked; Fioravanti vs. Kudukhashvili & Vitruk vs. Coga added
Guram Gugenishvili Memorial Show, Feb. 21 in Tbilisi, Georgia |
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Jan. 21, 2015) – M-1 Global’s 2015 season-opening event, M-1 Challenge 55: Guram Gugenishvili Memorial Show, is gradually developing into an exciting, stacked event on February 21 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The latest fights to be added to M-1 Challenge 55, dedicated to the memory of the first M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion, Guran Gugenishvili, is an intriguing middleweight clash between American invader Luigi “The Italian Tank” Fioravanti and Georgian favorite Nodar Kudukhashvili, along with undefeated featherweight prospect Pavel Vitruk taking on upset-minded Max Coga.
Last week, M-1 Global announced two heavyweight fights for M-1 Challenge 55: past M-1 Challenge title challenger Denis Smoldarev (9-1-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), of Estonia, vs. Croatian challenger Maro Perak (23-4-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), as well as former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Kenny “Deuce” Garner (14-8-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 SUB), of America, vs. Chechen prospect Aslambek “Titan” Musaev (5-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB).
M-1 Challenge 55 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.
Fioravanti (25-12-0, 10 KO/TKO, 6 SUB), fighting out of Florida, is coming off of an impressive first-round stoppage (punches) of
Ruslan Khaskhanov this past December at
M-1 Challenge 54 & ACB 12. He recently signed a new promotional contract with M-1 Global.
The 33-year-old Italian-American joined the U.S. Marines after graduating from high school. He started training in kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in California and Iraq while active in the military. Fioravanti, who holds a second-degree black belt in Pancrase Pankration, has won three of his last four fights
Kudukhashvili (7-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 3 SUB) is considered one of the strongest of a new generation of Georgian MMA fighters. In 2013, he won the WMMAA championships, defeating Russian champion Shamil Abdulaev in the final competition.
In eight professional MMA fights to date, Kudukhashvili has lost only once, by third-round decision to Jamaican-born Uriah “Prime Time” Hall, winner of the The Ultimate Fighter 17. Kudukhashvili will be making his M-1 Global debut against Fioravanti.
The 24-year-old Vitruk (12-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) , fighting out of Ukraine, is a rising M-1 Challenge star with a perfect 5-0 record in M-1 Challenge competition dating back to 2013 at M-1 Challenge: Fedor vs. Rizzo. Considered one of the best featherweight prospects in the MMA world today, Vitruk was 2-0 last year, defeating a pair of Brazilians challengers, Rafael Miranda (KO/TKO1 – punches) at M-1 Challenge 53 and Clayton Santos (SUB1 – punches) at M-1 Challenge 46.
Training out of the famed Alexander Nevsky Club in St. Petersburg, Russia, Vitruk has his sights firmly set on M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan Buchinger, who is a Team MMA Spirit stablemate of Coga.
A lightweight champion at home in Germany, Coga will be in fighting in his second M-1 Challenge event having lost last May by first-round knockout (kick) to lightweight contenderMax Divnich at M-1 Challenge 47.
The loss to Divnich resulted in a Team Coga decision for him to drop down one weight division to featherweight. In his last action, Coga bounced back strong with an impressive victory in his featherweight debut this past November at Fair FC 2, stopping previously undefeated (5-0-0 pro, 4-0-0 amateur records) Gabriel Sobo in the third round.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 55 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.
|
Denis Smoldarev vs. Maro Perak added to M-1 Challenge 55 card Feb 21 in Georgia
|
|||||||
|
Kenny Garner vs. Aslambek Musaev Announced for M-1 Challenge 55
|
||||||
|