Tag Archives: Pavel Vitruk

American fighters Lee Morrison & Josh Rettinghouse to bolster already loaded M-1 Challenge 73: Battle of Narts

 
Featuring 2 title fights
Ramazan Emeev vs. Anatoly Tokov
Ivan Buchinger vs. Magomed Idrisov
 December 9 in Ingushetia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (November 9, 2016) – The already loaded M-1 Challenge 73: Battle of Narts card has been bolstered by the M-1 Global announcement that two American fighters, Lee “American Bulldog” Morrison and “The Finisher” Josh Rettinghouse, have been added to the 2016 season-ending event December 9th in Ingushetia, Russia.
A super showdown between M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev(14-3-0, M-1: 8-1-0) and KO artist specialist Anatoly Tokov (24-2-0, M-1: 9-1-0) will headline M-1 Challenge 73: Battle of Narts in a battle of elite Russian fighters.
 
In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger (31-4-0, M-1: 6-0-0), fighting out of Slovakia, defends his title belt against undefeated Russian challenger Magomed Idrisov (5-0-0, M-1: 5-0-0).
M-1 Challenge 73 will be streamed live from Ingushetia 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.
Morrison (15-7-0, M-1: 2-4-0) and Rettinghouse (13-4-0, M-1: 1-0-0) are both fighting out of the state of Washington.
Morrison faces undefeated Russian prospect Moysar Evoloev (5-0-0, M-1: 5-0-0) in a fight contested at a 140-pounds (63.5 kilograms) catchweight.  Morrison is a grappler (see photo below with him in top position) who defeated current M-1 Challenge bantamweight title-holder Pavel Vitruk by decision at M-1 Challenge 58.
 
Fighting at home in Ingushetia, Evloev is also a grappler who is coming off a first-round knockout of Alexander Krupenkin this past May at M-1 Challenge 66 (pictured below).
Rettinghouse, the King of the Cage champion, takes on Sergey Morozov (6-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0) in a bantamweight with future title implications for the winner.
A submission master who has a strong Brazilian Ju-Jitsu background, Rettinghouse is coming off his successful M-1 Global debut this past May at M-1 Challenge 66, in which Rettinghouse stopped Vadim Zhloboch in the opening round due to an injury.
Morozov, fighting out of Kazakhstan, is an outstanding striker and well-rounded MMA fighter.  He was on the wrong end of the M-1 Challenge 68 Fight of the Night last July in a loss by decision to Rafael Dias.
At M-1 Challenge 59, Morozov (pictured below) was awarded the Knockout of the Night award for his demolishing of Andy Young a year ago July.
An impressive victory will position the Rettinghouse-Morozov winner for a potential M-1 Challenge bantamweight title fight with defending champion Vitruk.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Nov. 18 – M-1 Challenge 72:  Kunchenko vs. Abdulaev in Moscow, Russia
Dec. 9 – M-1 Challenge 73: Emeev vs. Tokov in Ingushetia, Russia
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M-1 Challenge 71  Pavel Vitruk vs. Vitali Branchuk for Inaugural M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Championship

October 21 in Saint Petersburg, Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (September 26, 2016) – The inaugural M-1 Challenge bantamweight championship will be at stake Friday, October 21, at M-1 Challenge 71 as Pavel Vitruk battles Vitali Branchuk in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
M-1 Challenge 71 will be streamed live from Russia 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.
 
Vitruk (13-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), fighting out of Saint Petersburgh by way of Ukraine, was riding a 12-fight undefeated streak to start his professional career.  He suffered back-to-back losses in 2015 o then undefeated Max Coga (12-0-0) by third-round submission (choke) in the M-1 Challenge 55 Fight of the Night and to Lee Morrison by majority decision.
 
After his loss to Morrison, Vitruk (pictured below) moved from the featherweight division to bantamweight, defeating Sergey Morozov this past February in the M-1 Challenge 64 Fight of the Night.
 

 
Ukraine native Branchuk (21-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0) has won his last eight fights, including a split-decision over Antun “Killer” Racic at M-1 Challenge 64. Branchuk pictured below) is known as a well-rounded fighter and a strong striker.
 
 
In a previously announced fight, former two-time M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Viktor Nemkov (23-6-0, M-1: 16-5-0) takes on ex-Bellator titlist Attila “Pumukli” Vegh (23-6-0, M-1: 16-5-0).
 
Additional M-1 Challenge 71 fights will soon be announced.
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M-1 Challenge 64 Bonus Performances Announce

MOSCOW (February 29, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced its M-1 Challenge 64bonus performances, highlighted by co-Fight of the Night awards, along with KO of the Night and Submission of the Night.
 
Veteran Russian fighter Alexander Shlemenklo (52-9-0), a three-time Bellator champion, won a close unanimous decision over former 2-division M-1 Challenge division Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-3-0), of Russia, in their M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament co-Fight of the Night match (pictured below).
 
Sharing top honors for Fight of the Night (see below) was Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0) vs. Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0), in which Vitruk won a decision in their M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Semifinals Eliminator match.
 
Russian heavyweight Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0) won KO of the Night honors with his opening-round stoppage of Ukrainian Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0).
 
Submission of the Night (see below) was awarded to Russian strongman Alexander “Drago” Volkov (25-6-0), who captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship, for his winning third-round triangle choke Denis Smoldarev (11-2-0), of Estonia.
 

 
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M-1 Challenge 64 Official Results & Pictures

Shlemenko & Volkov victorious

Alexander Shlemenko’s hands is raised in victory after the decision was announced for his M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament semifinals match against Vyacheslav Vasilevsky


Alexander Volkov captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight title
MOSCOW (February 20, 2016) – Veteran Russian fighters Alexander Shlemenkloand Alexander Volkov were the big winners in M-1 Challenge 64 action last night at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
 
Shlemenko (52-9-0), a three-time Bellator champion, returned to M-1 Global in grand style, winning a close but unanimous decision over former 2-division M-1 Challenge division Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-3-0), of Russia, in their M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament match.  Shlemenko advances to the championship final later this year to face the winner of the other semifinals fight (April 8) at M-1 Challenge 65between reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (13-3-0) and Brazilian Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao (35-8-0). Emeev was the 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year.
 
M-1 Global’s newly signed Alexander “Drago” Volkov (25-6-0), of Russia, captured the vacant M-1 Challenge heavyweight championship, defeating Estonian strongmanDenis Smoldarev (11-2-0) by way of a third-round submission via a triangle choke.
 
In the M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Semifinals Eliminator matches, Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0) and Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0) both won unanimous decisions to advance to the championship final to determine the new M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion.  Vitruk got past his previously undefeated Kazakh opponent Sergey Morozov (6-1-1), while Branchuk got the better of Antun “Killer” Racic (18-7-0), of Croatia.
 
Late replacement Vladimir Kathyhin (32-6-1), of Ukraine, won a decision over American middleweight Joe Ray (13-5-0) in the other main card fight.
 
On the preliminary card, Russian middleweight Magomed Mutaev (7-2-0), Russian welterweight Maksin Grabovich (3-2-0) and Ukrainian featherweight Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev (8-5-0) were all unanimous decision winners, respectively, against UkrainianVadim “Archie” Orischak (5-5-0), German Stefan Larisch (8-4-0) and RussianTimur Nagibin.
 
Russian heavyweight Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0) knocked out Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0), of Ukraine, in the opening round, while Russian middleweight Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasnikov (9-1-1) locked in a rear naked choke on Ukrainian foeVyacheslav “Bison” Bogomol (8-2-0) to win by second-round submission.
 
Complete results and picture gallery below (all winners listed first):
MAIN CARD
 
MAIN EVENT
M-1 GLOBAL GRAND PRIX MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT – SEMIFINALS
Alexander Shlemenko (52-9-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia
WDEC5
Vyacheslav Vaselevsky (27-4-0, M-1: 10-2-0), Russia
(Shlemenko advances to M-1 Global Grand Prix middleweight final)
CO-FEATURE
VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Alexander Volkov (25-6-0, M-1: 9-3-0), Russia
WSUB3 (Triangle Choke – 0:32)
Denis Smoldaraev (11-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Estonia
(Volkov captures M-1 Challenge heavyweight title)
M-1 CHALLENGE BANTAMWEIGHT SEMIFINALS ELIMINATOR
Pavel Vitruk (13-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Russia
WDEC3
Sergey Morozov (6-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Kazakhstan
Vitaly Branchuk (21-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Antun Racic (18-7-0, M-1: 3-4-0), Croatia
(Vitruk & Branchuk advance to M-1 Challenge bantamweight title fight)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Vladimir Katyhin (32-6-1, M-1: 2-0-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Joe Ray (13-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0, United States
PRELIMINARY CARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Kurban Ibragimov (4-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0, Russia
WKO1 (4:33)
Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Ukraine
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Magomed Mutaev (7-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Vadim Orischak (5-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia
Valery Myasnikov (9-1-1, M-1: 1-1-1), Russia
WSUB2 (Rear Naked Choke – 2:37)
Vyacheslav Bogomol (5-2-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
Maksin Grabovich (3-2-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Stefan Larisch (8-4-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Germany
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Andrey Lezhnev (8-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Ukraine
WDEC3
Timur Nagibin (5-2-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
 
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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL:

Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 170 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2016 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition, featuring a full calendar of Challenge events, fueled by a talent-rich contention system to rank M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.
ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TVEnjoy 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 64 Official Weights & Pictures WATCH LIVE ON M-1GLOBAL.TV


 
Photo gallery below
 
MAIN CARD
 M-1 GLOBAL GRAND PRIX MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT – SEMIFINALS – 5 X 5
Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 184 ½ lbs. (83.8 kg)
vs.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0), Russia 184 ½ lbs. (83.8 kg)
CO-FEATURE
VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5
Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-6-0, M-1: 8-3-0), Russia 236 ½ lbs. (107.5 kg)
vs.
Denis Smoldaraev (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0), Estonia 269 ½ lbs. (122.4 kg)
M-1 CHALLENGE BANTAMWEIGHT SEMIFINALS ELIMINATOR – 3 X 5
Pavel Vitruk (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0), Russia 135 lbs. (61.3 kg)
vs.
Sergey Morozov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Kazakhstan 134 lbs. (60.9 kg)
Antun “Killer” Racic (18-6-0, M-1: 3-3-0), Croatia 134 lbs. (61.0 kg)
vs.
Vitaly Branchuk (20-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Ukraine 134 ½ lbs. (61.1 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Joe Ray (13-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0, United States 184 lbs. (83.6 kg)                           
vs.
Vladimir Katyhin (31-6-1, M-1: 1-0-0), Ukraine 183 ½ lbs. (83.4 kg)
PRELIMINARY CARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Kurban Ibragimov (3-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0, Russia 230 lbs. (104.5 kg)
vs.
Dmitriy Mikutsa (5-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Ukraine 239 ½ lbs. (108.8 kg)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS- 3 X 5
Magomed Mutaev (6-2-0, M-1: 3-0-0),Russia 185 lbs. (84.0 kg)
vs.
Vadim “Archie” Orischak (5-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 184 lbs. (83.6 kg)
Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasnikov (8-1-1, M-1: 0-1-1), Russia 185 lbs. (84.0 kg)
vs.
Vyacheslav “Bison” Bogomol (5-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0) 183 lbs. (83.3 kg)
WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Stefan Larisch (8-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Germany 168 ½ lbs. (76.6 kg)
vs.
Maksin Grabovich (2-2-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 168 lbs. (76.3 kg)
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5
Andrey “Iron” Lezhnev (7-5-0, M-1: 1-1-0) 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
vs.
Timur Nagibin (5-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia 145 lbs. (65.8 kg)
WHAT:             M-1 Challenge 64
WHEN:             Friday, February 19, 2016
 
WHERE:           Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia
 
PROMOTER:     M-1 Global
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.
Information:

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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 170 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2016 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition, featuring a full calendar of Challenge events, fueled by a talent-rich contention system to rank M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.
ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TVEnjoy 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 65 rescheduled from March 4 to April 8 in St. Petersburg, Russia Due to scheduling conflict

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (February 15, 2016) –  M-1 Global has announced that M-1 Challenge 65 has been rescheduled from March 4 to April 8 at Ice Palace Sports Center in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Ice Hockey World Championships will be held this May in St. Petersburg and Moscow.  Many sports venues in St. Petersburg are closed in March due to renovations, resulting in the switched date for M-1 Challenge 65.
In the M-1 Challenge 65 main event, reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev(13-3-0, M-1: 7-1-0) will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao (35-8-0, M-1: 0-0-0) in the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight semifinals match.
The other M-1 Grand Prix middleweight semifinals match is set as three-time Bellator championAlexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0) at this Friday’s (Feb. 19) M-1 Challenge 64 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
The winners of Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky and Emeev vs. Falcao will advance to the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight championship later this year.
In other M-1 Global news, M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui‘s (13-2-0, M-1: 2-2-0) title defense versus challenger Artium Damkovsky (20-9-0, M-1: 10-6-0), has been moved from M-1 Challenge 64 to M-1 Challenge 65.
Replacing Barnaoui vs. Damkovsky on M-1 Challenge 64 is a classic striker-wrestler matchup between American Joe Ray (13-4-0, M-1: 0-0-0) and Nodar Kudukhashvili (10-2-0, M-1: 2-1-0), of Georgia.
M-1 Challenge 64 & 65 will be streamed live from Russia 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.
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Antun Racic vs. Vitaly Branchuk Bantamweight title eliminator added to stacked M-1 Challenge 64, Feb. 19 in Moscow

 (R) Antun Racic fires “Killer” strike
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 28, 2016) – M-1 Global’s first event of 2016 is shaping up as a potential blockbuster with the announcement of the second M-1 Challenge bantamweight elimination fight for M-1 Challenge 64 on February 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
Antun “Killer” Racic, of Croatia, will face Ukrainian Vitaly Branchuk for right to fight for the vacant M-1 Challenge bantamweight championship.  The survivor will advance to the championship round against the winner of the previously announced M-1 Challenge bantamweight semifinal eliminator, also part of the M-1 Challenge 64card, between  Pavel Vitruk (12-2-0, M-1: 6-2-0) and undefeated Kazakhstan-native Sergey Morozov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0). Vitruk is a Ukrainian-born fighter who lives and trains out of St. Petersburg, Russia.
 
The main event pits three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko(51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) and former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0) in the semifinals of the M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament.
In the co-feature, newly 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.
Racic (18-6-1, M-1: 6-2-0) is coming off of an impressive win by decision versus Alexei Nevzorov last September at M-1 Challenge 61.  The powerful Croatian, who is a standout grappler, is dropping down to fight as a bantamweight.
Branchuk (20-5-0, M-1: 0-1-0) will be fighting in his second M-1 Global event, the first two years ago at M-1 Challenge 45, in which he lost a decision to Yunus Evloev.  The 24-year-old Branchuk is riding a seven-fight win streak.  Known as a strong striker, he has knocked out 10 of his opponents.
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.
INFORMATION:
 
Upcoming Events:  Feb. 19 – M-1 Challenge 64 in Moscow, Russia; Mar. 4 – M-1 Challenge 65 in St. Petersburg, Russia
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2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year Ramazan Emeev takes on Maiquel Falcao In M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator Mar. 4 at M-1 Challenge 65 in Moscow

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 26, 2016) –  Reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev will take on Brazilian challenger Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao in the second M-1 Grand Prix middleweight eliminator, March 4 at M-1 Challenge 65, in Moscow.
The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0)at M-1 Challenge 64, February 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
The winners of Shlemenko vs. Vasilevsky and Emeev vs. Falcao will advance to the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight championship later this year.
“We tried to get the strongest middleweight fighters and did a great job to give fans the most spectacular match-ups,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein said.  “Every single fight is intriguing in M-1 Grand Prix.  I can’t guess how these fights will end up.  Every single fighter has his advantages.  Therefore, I think all of these fights are 50-50.”
Emeev (13-3-0, M-1: 7-1-0), the 2015 M-1 Global Fighter of the Year, is a two-time M-1 Challenge middleweight champion.  Born in Azerbaijan but fighting and training out of Markaxhkala, Russia, Emeev originally captured the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight crown in 2012 at M-1 Challenge 35, winning a decision over Mario Miranda.  Emeev successfully defended his title in a rematch five months later with Miranda, who was stopped via strikes in the third round at M-1 Challenge 38.
In his next title defense, Emeev lost his title belt at M-1 Challenge 51 as Vasilevsky won by fourth-round stoppage via punches.  Seven months later in a rematch, Emeev defeated Vasilevsky by first round submission (choke), and the champion defended his title this past December at M-1 Challenge 63, when American challenger Fioravanti Luigi was unable to continue fighting after two rounds.
Falcao may be making his M-1 Global debut at M-1 Challenge 65, however, the Brazilian black belt holder is a veteran of 43 professional MMA bouts with 23 knockouts.  The 34-year old Falcao split two fights with Vasilevsky and he was stopped by Shlemenko in the second round at Bellator 69.
M-1 Challenge 64 & 65 will be streamed live from Russia 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.

M-1 Grand Prix Tournament relaunched

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 20, 2016) – M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein recently announced the relaunching of its popular series, M-1 Grand Prix Tournament.
“We’ve been preparing this a long time and now we’re happy to officially announce our 2016 M-1 Grand Prix Tournament,” Finkelchtein said.  “This has been a very popular format and fans are always excited about it.  This time we will feature a 4-man tournament, rather than the usual 8-man pairings, because the 4-man version is faster and more entertaining.  We don’t want to bore people with long expectation periods and lessen the risk of occasional injuries and fighter changes in the tournament.”
The first M-1 Grand Prix match of 2016 is set in the middleweight division as three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0) takes on former M-1 Challenge middleweight and light heavyweight titlist Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (27-3-0, M-1: 10-1-0)at M-1 Challenge 64, February 19 at Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
“Well, we were choosing between several offers from different promotions,” explained Shlemenoko’s manager Alexey Zhernakov.  “In the end, we came to the conclusion that M-1 Grand Prix participation is the most interesting option for us at the moment.  Alexander is still under Bellator’s exclusive contract.  Therefore, we had to negotiate with Bellator, which kindly allowed us to sign with M-1 Global.  We expect Alexander Shlemenko to take part in major M-1 Challenge events as they are always organized at a high level and broadly covered by the media.”
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.

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
Information

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