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M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

Top Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov Commits to fighting on M-1 Challenge 80 card June 15 in China

March 28, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

MOSCOW (March 27, 2017) – Russian heavyweight Sergei “The Paratrooper” Kharitonov has committed to fighting June 15 on the M-1 Challenge 80 card in Harbin, China. Kharitonov will square-off against veteran Brazilian MMA fighter Marcus Viniciuds “Montanha” Lopes in the main event.

Kharitonov (23-6-0, M-1: 3-0-0) is undefeated in three M-1 Challenge events having defeated former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Kenny “Deuce” Garner twice, at M-1 Challenge 59 in 2015 at Kazakhstan (WKO/TKO4 – punches) and M-1 Challenge 43 in 2013 at China, (KO/TKO3 – injury), and to Alexei Kudin at M-1 Challenge 53 in 2014 Russia (KO2).

Kharitonov, who has also fought in Strikeforce and PRIDE, has defeated some of the greatest heavyweight MMA fighters of all-time, including Allistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo.

Lopes (15-0-0, M-1: 2-1-0) defeated Evgeni Myakinkin by three-round unanimous decision this past February at M-1 Challenge 74. Lopes won a three-round unanimous decision over Kurban Ibragimov in his M-1 debut last July. His lone M-1 loss came at M-1 Challenge 71 this past October to former M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan Puetz, who used a choke hold for a third-round submission victory.

A pressure fighter and solid striker, Lopes is a jiu-jitsu champion in his native Brazil, where most of his MMA fights have been held during his 6 1/2-years professional career.

In a recent interview with M-1 Global News, Kharitonov said, “I received a lot of offers but I prefer to fight in M-1 Global.” Below is the complete Q & A with Kharitonov:

Do you know who your opponent will be at M-1 Challenge and, if not, what are your expectations?

SK: “I don’t not know anything yet. I received an offer from M-1 to fight in China. Since I have been talking with (M-1 Global president) Vadim Finkelchtein for a long time and understand each other, I gave my consent Vadim said I am popular in China and that he wanted me to represent Russia in this tournament. At this moment, I have no thoughts or assumptions about this fight because I’m focused on my upcoming Bellator fight. This is my main objective right now and after that fight I will think about the M-1 fight.”

Bellator did not give permission for a fight last December in Russia. What changed this time and was it difficult to get permission to fight again in M-1?

SK: “There were no problems. I do not want to comment on how we came to an agreement, bit one thing is for sure, I’ve received permission and after my next Bellator fight I will fight at M-1 Challenge 80 in China.”

You fought in China at M-1 Challenge 53. How do you like the local audience there and what are your overall impressions of the tournament?

SK: “Everything was fine. I liked the level of organization, fans’ attitude toward the athletes, and the response from the public. I think M-1 has good experience in terms of holding tournaments in China, so this time they can make it an even bigger show.”

Do you accept offers to fight from other Russian organizations and why did you decided to fight in M-1?

SK: “Yes, I received a lot of offers, especially recently. I won’t say specifically but they were from major Russian MMA organizations. But I have a long relationship with M-1 and me and Vadim know each other well. We get along well and trust each other. Therefore, O prefer to fight in M-1 Global.”

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Alexey Nevzorov & Movsar Evloev to fight for Interim M-1 Challenge bantamweight title

March 22, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

M-1 Challenge 76, April 22, in Ingushetia

MOSCOW (March 21, 2017) – M-1 Global has ordered an Interim M-1 Challenge bantamweight title fight, due to a long-term injury to reigning champion Pavel Vitruk, between top contenders Alexey Nevzorov and Movsar Evloev at M-1 Challenge 76, April 22, in Ingushetia, Russia.

Representing the famed Alexander Nevsky OEMK Team in Stary Oskol, Russia, the home gym for living legend Fedor Emelianenko, Nevsorov (12-2-0, M-1: 6-1-0) has won his last three fights, including a second-round stoppage of Andrey Lezhnev this past December at M-1 Challenge 73, and a three-round decision last September over Timur Nagibin at M-1 Challenge 70.

Nevorov (pictured above) will be dropping down in weight from featherweight to bantamweight to fight for the title.

Also Russian fighter, Evloev (6-0-0, M-1: 6-0-0) is coming off the best victory of his young career, positioning himself for this title shot with a three-round decision over his much more experienced foe, American opponent Lee Morrison (see pictured below), at M-1 Challenge 73.

Known for his tremendous physicality, coupled with an excellent grappling game and diverse striking skill set, Nevzorov has been tabbed as a future MMA star.

A featherweight match between Russian Timur Nagibin (8-2-0, M-1: 4-1-0) and Brazilian Diego D’Avila (18-5-0, M-1: 1-0-0) has also been announced for M-1 Challenge 76.

Nagibin is coming off an impressive third-round stoppage (punches) of Kurbanali Abdusalamov at M-1 Challenge 72 last November, while D’Avila won his M-1 Global debut last, choking out Zalimbeg Omarov for the M-1 Challenge 73 Submission of the Night.

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Alexander Shlemenko defeats Paul Bradley, Kunchenko retains M-1 Challenge title

March 5, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

M-1 CHALLENGE 74 OFFICIAL RESULTS

(R) Alexander Shlemenko kicked his way to another victory

MOSCOW (March 4, 2017) — Russian middleweight Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko defeated American Paul “The Gentleman” Bradley and undefeated M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko retained his title last night in the loaded M-1 Challenge 75 card at Olympic Sports Complex in Moscow, Russia

A three-time Bellator champion, Shlemenko (55-9-0. 1 NC, M-1: 5-0-0) spoiled the M-1 Global debut of former Ring of Combat champion Bradley (23-8-0, M-1: 0-1-0), fighting out of San Diego, by way of a three-round unanimous decision in the main event of the evening. Shlemenko, who last year captured the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Championship, remained undefeated in M-1 Global competition.

Kunchenko (16-0-0, M-1: 8-0-0), of Russia, kept his professional MMA record intact with his 16^th victory, half of which in M-1 Global competition, with a five-round unanimous decision over fellow countryman Maksim Grabovich (5-3-0, M-1: 4-1-0) in the co-feature.

(R) — Alexey Kunchenko cruised to his 16th pro win with a defeat

Popular Russian welterweight Sergey “Streetfighter” Romanov (11-1-0, M-1: 4-0-0) made a strong statement as a legitimate title contender with his three-round unanimous decision over Russian MMA veteran Mogamed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-6-0, M-1: 10-2-0), the former M-1 Selection middleweight champion.

Former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich (13-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0) positioned himself for another title shot, stopping American Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell (11-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0) on punches in the second round.

In the final main card fight, Brazilian light heavyweight Carlos “Cachorrao” Eduardo (15-4-0, M-1: 1-0-0) made an impressive M-1 Global debut, taking a three-round decision from his Ukrainian opponent, Boris “Bora” Polezhay (15-6-0, M-1: 1-1-0).

In preliminary card action, Russian middleweight Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasinikov (11-1-2, M-1: 2-1-2) lived up to his nickname with an opening-round knockout of Brazilian Amilcar Alves (15-11-0, M-1: 0-1-0), undefeated Russian welterweight Abubakar Mestoev (4-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0) took a three-round unanimous decision from German Niko Samsonidse (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), pro-debuting Russian lightweight Roman Bogatov (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0) used an arm-triangle choke to submit Ukrainian Aleksey Sotnikov (4-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), South Korean Bok Kil Young (8-2-1, M-1: 0-0-1) and Russian Viktor Kolesnik (9-2-1, M-1: 0-0-1) fought to a three-round draw, Russian welterweight Danila Prikaza (6-1-0, M-1: 4-1-0) locked in a rear-naked choke hold to defeat German Arda “Boma Ye” Adas (8-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0) by first-round submission, and Georgian lightweight Raul Tutarauli (8-4-0, M-1: 4-1-0) punched out Mohamed Grabinski (14-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), of Germany, in the second round.

Complete results & photo gallery below:

MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT – MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Alexander Shlemenko (55-9-0, 1 NC, M-1: 5-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

Paul Bradley (23-8-0, 2 NC, M-1: 0-1-0), USA

M-1 CHALLENGE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Alexey Kunchenko (16-0-0, M-1: 8-0-0), Russia

WDEC5

Maksim Grabovich (5-3-0, M-1: 4-1-0), Russia

(Kunchenko retained M-1 Challenge welterweight title)

WELTERWEIGHTS

Seregey Romanov (11-1-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

Magomed Sultanakhmedov (18-6-0, M-1: 10-2-0), Russia

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Maxim Divnich (12-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Russia

WTKO/KO2 (punches – 2:03)

Keon Caldwell (11-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), USA

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Carlos Eduardo (15-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

WDEC3

Boris Polezhay (15-4-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Ukraine

PRELIMINARY CARD

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Valery Myasinikov(11-1-2, M-1: 2-2-2), Russia.

WTKO/KO1 (punches – 2:59)

Amilcar Alves (15-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

WELTERWEIGHTS

Abubakar Mestoev (4-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

Niko Samsonidse (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Germany

Danila Prikaza (6-1-0, M-1: 4-1-0), Russia

WSUB1 (rear-naked choke – 1:54)

Arda Adas (8-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Germany

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Roman Bogatov (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia

WSUB1 (arm-triangle choke – 1:56)

Aleksey Sotnikov (4-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Ukraine

Bok Kil Young (8-2-1, M-1: 0-0-1), South Korea

Viktor Kolesnik (9-2-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia

Raul Tutarauli (8-4-0, M-1: 4-1-0), Georgia

WTKO/KO2 (punches – 3:50)

Mohamed Grabinski (14-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Germany

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M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

M-1 CHALLENGE 75 OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

March 3, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT – MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

(L) ALEXANDER SHLEMENKO (54-9-0, 1 NC, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia 184 1/2 lbs. (83.9 kg)

vs.

(R) PAUL BRADLEY (23-7-0, 2 NC, M-1: 0-0-0), USA 184 lbs. (83.6 kg)

M-1 CHALLENGE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5

(L) ALEXEY KUNCHENKO (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0), Champion, Russia 169 1/2 lbs. (77 kg)

vs.

(R) MAKSIM GRABOVICH (5-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Challenger, Russia 164 1/2 lbs. (74.8 kg)

WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

SERGEY ROMANOV (10-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia 169 1/2 lbs. (77 kg)

MAGOMED SULTANAKHMEDOV (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0), Russia 169 1/2 lbs. (77.1 kg)

LIGHTWEIGHTS — 3 X 5

MAXIM DIVNICH (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0), Russia 154 lbs. (70.1 kg)

vs.

KEON CALDWELL (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), USA 154 lbs. (70.1 kg)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

BORIS POLEZHAY (15-5-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Ukraine 204 1/2 lbs. (92.9 kg)

vs.

CARLOS EDUARDO (14-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Brazil 205 lbs. (93 kg)

PRELIMINARY CARD

MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

VALERY MYASINIKOV (10-1-2, M-1: 1-2-2), Russia. 187 lbs. (84.9 kg)

vs.

AMILCAR ALVES (15-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Brazil 187 lbs. (84.9 kg)

WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

NIKO SAMSONIDSE (2-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Germany 154 lbs. (70 kg)

vs.

ABUBAKAR MESTOEV (3-0-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia 154 1/2 lbs. (70.2 kg)

ARDA “Boma Ye” ADAS (8-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Germany 176 lbs. (80.0 kg)

vs.

DANILA PRIKAZA (5-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russia 173 1/2 lbs. (78.9 kg)

LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

ALEKSEY SOTNIKOV (4-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Ukraine 149 lbs. (67.8 kg)

vs.

ROMAN BOGATOV (0-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 149 lbs. (67.9 kg)

BOK KIL YOUNG (8-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), South Korea 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)

vs.

VIKTOR KOLESNIK (9-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)

MOHAMED GRABINSKI (14-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Germany 158 lbs. (71.9 kg)

Vs.

RAUL TUTARAULI (7-4-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Georgia 158 1/2 lbs. (72.0 kg)

WHEN: Friday, March 3, 2017

WHERE: Moscow, Russia

PROMOTER: M-1 Global

LIVE STREAM: www.m1global.tv (12.00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT in USA)

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M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:

M-1 Challenge 75 – March 3, 2017 – Moscow, Russia

M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

American middleweight Paul Bradley Steps up to challenge “Storm” Alexander Shlemenko in main event

January 29, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

M-1 Challenge 75, March 3, in Moscow, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 27, 2017) – American MMA veteran Paul “The Gentleman” Bradley has stepped up to meet the awesome challenge presented by 2016 M-1 Grand Prix middleweight champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko in the March 3^rd M-1 Challenge 75 main event in Moscow.

M-1 Challenge 75 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 the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.

A three-time Bellator champion, Shlemenko (54-9-0. 1 NC, M-1: 4-0-0) defeated former M-1 Challenge champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky last year in the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Championship semifinals and championship final, respectively, by three-round majority decision and third-round submission (choke). Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky I & II were also the M-1 Challenge 68 & 64 Fights of the Night.

Former Ring of Combat champion Bradley (23-7-0, M-1: 0-0-0) will be making his M-1 Challenge debut, however, he’s a seasoned MMA veteran having fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator and World Series of Fighting.

The 33-year-old Bradley, fighting out of San Diego (California), was a standout wrestler at the powerhouse University of Iowa. He is known for his physical strength, tremendous endurance, and balanced stand-up and ground skills.

Undefeated M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0), of Russia, will defend his title in the co-feature against Maksin Grabovich (5-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0), of Russia, who replaced injured Kazakh challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov (7-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0).

Russian welterweight prospect Sergey “Streetfighter” Romanov (10-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) meets Russian veteran Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0), while another American fighter, lightweight Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), will make his M-1 Global debut against former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0), of Ukraine.

Rounding out a loaded M-1 Challenge 75 main card is a middleweight clash between Russian favorite Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasinikov (10-1-2, M-1: 1-1-2) and Spaniard Enoc Solves Torres (19-9-1, M-1: 5-6-1).

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M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:

M-1 Challenge 74 – Feb. 18, 2017 – St. Petersburg, Russia

M-1 Challenge 75 – March 3, 2017 – Moscow, Russia

M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

Maksim Grabovich new opponent for M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko

January 24, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

M-1 Challenge 75, March 3, in Moscow, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 23, 2017) – Undefeated M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko will now be challenged by fellow Russian Maksim Grabovich, who has replaced injured Shavkat Rakhmonov, March 3, at M-1 Challenge 75 in Moscow.

M-1 Grand Prix middleweight champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (54-9-0. 1 NC, M-1: 4-0-0),the three-time Bellator champion, will headline M-1 Challenge 75 against an opponent to soon be announced.

Kunchenko (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0), fighting out of Tyumen, Russia, is a Muay Thai specialist who captured his M-1 Challenge welterweight title belt last April at M-1 Challenge 65, when defending titlist Murad Abdulaev retired during the fourth round.

In a non-title fight, Kunchenko won a three-round unanimous decision over Eduardo Ramon at M-1 Challenge at M-1 Challenge 70 last September. His first title defense was December 5 at M-1 Challenge 72, in which Kunchenko won a 5-round unanimous decision over Abdulaev in a rematch.

Grabovich (5-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0), fighting out of famed Stary Oskol in Russia, has won his last three fights in addition to being undefeated in four M-1 Global matches. His signature victory to date was last June at M-1 Challenge 68, in which Grabovich won a three-round unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night.

In other announced main card fights, American lightweight Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0) makes his M-1 Global debut against former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich (12-2-0 (M-1: 6-2-0), while Russian welterweight prospect Sergey “Streetfighter” Romanov (10-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) faces Russian veteran Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0).

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M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:

M-1 Challenge 74 – Feb. 18, 2017 – St. Petersburg, Russia

M-1 Challenge 75 – March 3, 2017 – Moscow, Russia

M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, Russia

“Storm” Warning! Alexander Shlemenko to headline M-1 Challenge 75

January 21, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American lightweight

Keon Caldwell added to loaded card

March 3 in Moscow, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 19, 2017) – M-1 Global has announced that 2016 M-1 Grand Prix middleweight champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko will headline M-1 Challenge 75 in Moscow.

It has also been announced that American lightweight Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell will make his M-1 Global debut versus former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich.

Shlemenko (54-9-0. 1 NC, M-1: 4-0-0), a three-time Bellator champion, defeated former M-1 Challenge champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (see picture above with Shlemenko on right) last year in the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Championship semifinals and championship final, respectively, by three-round majority decision and third-round submission (choke). Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky I & II were the M-1 Challenge 68 & 64 Fights of the Night.

In a much-anticipated All-Russian middleweight showdown, Shlemenko was supposed to fight reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev, who was unfortunately injured during training camp, forcing him out of that match. Vasilevsky replaced Emeev against Shlemenko in the championship final.

In his last action, Shlemenko stopped Kendall Grove in the second round of their main event fight on Bellator 162 last October in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Alexander Shlemenko fighting in Russia is always a significant event,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein said, “as he is a true legend of Russian MMA. His fights always sellout arenas, no matter who his opponent. We all know that the story we started last year at M<-1 Grand Prix 2016 isn’t over, yet. The whole country is waiting for the fight between Russia’s two best middleweights – Alexander Shlemenko and Ramazan Emeev.

“Ramazan was injured and Shlemenko had contractual obligations with Bellator. So, throughout the past month, we were waiting for Shlemenko to receive permission to fight in Russia. Now, we have arranged for him to fight on M-1 Challenge 75. We’ve done a great job to make this possible and now hope that, this time, we will be able to complete this exciting story.”

Undefeated M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0), of Russia, will defend his title against an opponent to be announced, due to originally announced Kazakh challenger, unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov (7-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), withdrawing due to a knee injury.

Russian welterweight prospect Sergey “Streetfighter” Romanov (10-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) faces Russian veteran Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0) on the M-1 Challenge 75 card.

Caldwell (11-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), fighting out of Georgia, is the US-based Island Fights champion. A powerful puncher who has nine knockouts in his 11 pro victories, Caldwell was supposed to compete in the 13^th season of The Ultimate Fighter, but he withdrew due to personal reasons. He has had several fights in World Series of Fighting.

A Ukrainian fighting out of Moscow, Divnich captured the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title in 2014 at M-1 Challenge 54, stopping Dzhambulat Kurbanov in the third round on punches in the Fight of the Night. In 2015, Divnich lost his first title defense by third-round knockout to Mansour Barnaoui at M-1 Challenge 57. In his last fight, Artiom Damkovsky knocked out Divnich with a kick in the second-round of their fight this past September at M-1 Challenge 70.

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M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:

M-1 Challenge 74 – Feb. 18, 2017 – St. Petersburg, Russia

M-1 Challenge 75 – March 3, 2017 – Moscow, Russia

M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

Injured Shavkat Rakhmonov pulls out of Welterweight title fight vs. Alexey Kunchenko

January 10, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

M-1 Challenge 75, March 3 in Moscow, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 9, 2017) – A serious knee injury requiring surgery has forced undefeated Kazakhstan challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov (7-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0) to withdraw from his first title fight, March 3 against unbeaten M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0), of Russia, at M-1 Challenge 75 in Moscow.

“I wanted this fight badly and put a lot of effort into preparation for it,” a dejected Rakhmonov explained. “Unfortunately, I tore ligaments in my knee and, based on my medical exam, I will need surgery soon. I apologize to all the MMA fans who were anticipating this fight. I’ll do my best to return stronger than ever.”

Welterweight prospect Sergey “Streetfighter” Romanov (10-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) takes on Russian veteran Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0) on the M-1 Challenge 75 card.

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