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

Rashid Yusupov defeats Stephan Puetz To retrain M-1 Challenge light heavyweight crown

February 20, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Abukar Yandiev destroys Alexander Butenko

To become new M-1 Challenge lightweight champion

M-1 CHALLENGE 74 OFFICIAL RESULTS

Yusupov (7-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), fighting out of Russia, remained undefeated with a brutal, bloody victory over former M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz (15-3-0, 6-2-), of Germany, whose corner stopped the fight during the third round.

Wildly popular Russian fighter Yandiev (9-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0) immediately opened his title fight challenge with a powerful right-handed punch that floored defending champion

Alexander “Iron Capture” Butenko (42-12-2, M-1: 9-2-0). Yankiev relentlessly attacked veteran Butenko, firing more than 60 unanswered strikes on the fallen Ukranian veteran, until the referee mercifully halted the fight at 1:65 of the first round.

Kazakhstan-native Damir Ismagulov (10-2-0, M-1: 6-1-0), fighting out of Russia, stopped French welterweight Morgan Heraud (6-6-0, M-1: 1-0-0) on punches in the third round. Belarussian lightweight Artium Damkovsky (23-10-0, M-1: 13-7-0) and Ukrianian bantamweight Vitaly Branchuk (22-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0) won three-round unanimous decisions, respectively, over Brazilian Erivan “Negao” Pereira (7-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0) and Frenchman Moktar “Le Kabyle” Benkaci (13-8-0, M-1: 2-2-0).

In the soccer club fans match, Dmitry Tebekin (5-2-0, M-1: 1-0-0) locked a guillotine choke on fellow Russian light heavyweight Artur Tulparova (1-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0) for a submission victory in the first round.

On the preliminary card, Swiss welterweight Pablo Ortman (7-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0) remained undefeated with a first-round submission win (triangle choke) over Ukrainian Vyacheslav “Bison” Bogomol (9-4-0, M-1: 0-2-0), Brazilian welterweight Bruce Souto (10-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0) submitted (rear naked choke) Russian Payzula Magomedov (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0) in the third round, Brazilian heavyweight Marcus Vinicius “Montanah” Lopes (11-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0) decisioned Russian Evgeni Myakinkin (14-8-1, 1 NC, M-1: 2-2-0), Ukrainian bantamweight Dmitry Orlov (13-6-0, M-1: 1-0-0) defeated Russian Mikhail Kuznetsov (4-3-0, M-1: 2-3-0) by way of a second-round submission (triangle choke), Russian bantamweight Vadim Malygin (8-2-1, M-1: 0-2-1) knocked out Brazilian Denes Carvalho (5-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0) in the third round.

Complete results and picture gallery below:

MAIN CARD

M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Rashid Yusupov (7-0-0, M-1: 5-0-0), Russia

WTKO3 (corner stoppage – 3:26)

Stephan Puetz (15-3-0, M-1: 6-2-0), Germany

(Yusupov M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title)

M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Abukar Yandiev (9-1-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russia

WTKO1 (punches – 1:65)

Alexander Botenko (42-12-2, M-1: 9-2-0), Ukraine

WELTERWEIGHTS

Damir Ismagulov (10-2-0, M-1: 6-1-0), Russia by way of Kazakhstan

WTKO3 – (punches — 1:31)

Morgam Heraud (6-6-0, M-1: 0-1-0), France

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Artiom Damkovsky (23-10-0, M-1: 13-7-0), Belarus

WDEC3

Erivan Pereira (7-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

BANTAMWEIGHTS

Vitalay Branchuck (22-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0), Ukraine

WDEC3

Moktar Benkaci (13-8-0, M-1: 2-2-0), France

SOCCER CLUB FANS

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Dmitry Tebekin (5-2-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia

WSUB1 (guillotine choke – 1:59)

Artur Tulparova (1-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia

PRELIMINARY CARD

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Marcus Vinicius Lopes (11-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Brazil

WDEC3

Evgeni Myakikkin (14-2-7, 1 NC, M-1: 2-2-0), Russia

WELTERWEIGHTS

Urs Pablo Ortmann (7-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Switzerland

WSUB1 (triangle choke – 1:26)

Vyacheslav Bogomol (9-4-0, M-1: 0-2-0), Ukraine

Bruce Souto (10-3-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Brazil

WSUB3 (rear naked choke – 2:40)

Payzula Magomedov (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia

BANTAMWEIGHTS

Dmitry Orlov (13-6-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Ukraine

WSUB2 (triangle choke – 1:36)

Mikhail Kuznetsov (4-3-0, M-1: 2-3-0), Russia

Vadim Malygin (8-2-1, M-1: 1-1-1), Russia

WKO3 (punches – 0:45)

Denes Carvalho (5-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

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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

MMA fighters & fans of rival Russian soccer teams Added to M-1 Challenge 74 card

February 3, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 18 in St. Petersburg, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (February 2, 2017) – The February 18^th M-1 Challenge 74 card in St. Petersburg got even more interesting with M-1Global’s announcement that a fight between fans of arch-rival Russian soccer (non-American football) teams will square-off in full team colors.

In the main event, undefeated M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Rashid Yusupov (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), of Russia, defends his title against former titlist Stephan “T-800” Puetz (15-2-0, M-1: 6-1-0), of Germany.

M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Alexander “Iron Capture” Butenko (42-11-2, M-1: 9-1-0) faces challenger Abukar Yandiev (8-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0) in theM-1 Challenge 74 co-feature.

Billed as the first MMA fight part of a major event to feature MMA fighters who are also fans of two of the top soccer clubs in Russia, CSKA and Spartak, battling between the ropes to determine the strongest soccer fan under MMA rules, not in the street.

Light heavyweight Dmitry Tebekin (4-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), representing CSKA, will throw-down against Spartak fan Arthur Reig Tjul’parov (1-0-0, M-1: 1-0-0). Tebekin was the St. Petersburg Cup winner and vice-champion of St. Petersburg, while Tjul’parov was also vice-champion of St. Petersburg as well as the third-place finisher in the All-Russian Grand Prix

M-1 Challenge 74 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.

Also fighting on the M-1 Challenge 74 main card, in addition to Yusupov-Puetz and Butenko-Yandiev, is former M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion Vitaly Branchuk (21-6-0, M-1: 1-2-0), of Ukraine, vs. Frenchman Moktar “Le Kabyle” Benkaci (13-7-0); two-time M-1 Challenge lightweight title challengerArtiom Damkovsky (22-10-1, M-1: 12-7-0), of Belarus, vs. undefeatedBrazilian Pablo “Negao” Pereira (7-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0), and Ukrainian welterweight Vyacheslav “Bison” Bogomol (9-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0) vs. unbeatenPablo Ortmann (6-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0), of Switzerland.

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M-1 Challenge lightweight title fight Butenko vs. Yandiev added to M-1 Challenge 74

January 17, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

February 18 in St. Petersburg, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (January 16, 2017) – M-1 Global has announced that M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Alexander “Iron Capture” Butenko will take on challenger Abukar Yandiev (8-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0) in the M-1 Challenge 74 co-feature on February 18, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The previously announced main event pits undefeated M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Rashid Yusupov (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), of Russia, defends his title against former titlist Stephan “T-800” Puetz (15-2-0, M-1: 6-1-0), of Germany.

M-1 Challenge 74 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.

Also announced is a fight between top bantamweights Vitaly Branchuk andMoktar “Le Kabyle” Benkaci will also be in action with the winner positioning himself for a potential title shot with M-1 Challenge bantamweight championPavel Vitruk in the not-too-distant future.

A strong Ukrainian with superior wrestling skills, Butenko (42-11-2, M-1: 9-1-0) is an eight-year MMA veteran who has found a welcomed home in M-1 Challenge competition and he has taken advantage of the opportunity. Riding a six-fight win streak, the 29-year-old Butenko captured the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title belt last June at M-1 Challenge 67, when he took a five-round unanimous decision over Artiom Damkovsky.

In his last action, at M-1 Challenge 71 in October, Butenko won a unanimous three-round decision against Rubenilton Pereira in a non-title fight.

Butenko’s first title defense will be against one of the most popular MMA fighters in Russia, the fighting powerhouse Yandiev, who also is a strong wrestler, plus a solid Judo background. The rising lightweight star will be a certain fan favor because of his nationality as well as his style of fighting, resulting in first-round endings in all his pro fights to date.

Last June at M-1 Challenge 68, Yandiev used an armlock for a first-round submission of Tony Christodoulou, fought at a 177 ½ lbs. catchweight.

Like Butenko, Branchuk (21-6-0, M-1: 1-2-0) also fights out of Ukraine. The 25-year-old fighter is a former M-1 Challenge bantamweight title challenger, who was riding an eight-fight into his last fight, in which he lost by fourth-round submission (choke) to the aforementioned Vitruk (see accompanying picture to left). In M-1 Challenge competition, Branchuk defeated Antun Racicone year ago, by way of a three-round split decision at M-1 Challenge 64.

Benkaci (13-7-0, (M-1: 2-1-0) is a grappling specialist from France. Known and highly respected for his great conditioning and endurance, he lost a disputed three-round decision in his M-1 Challenge debut to Nikita Chistyakov 1-½ years ago, but the talented Frenchman bounced back to knockout his last two opponents, Vadim Malygin andAlexey Naumov, respectively, by knee and punch.

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M-1 Challenge Light Heavyweight Champion Rashid Yusupov vs. Stephan Puetz to headline M-1 Challenge 74

December 8, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

February 18 in St. Petersburg, Russia

(L-R) – Rashid Yusupov and Stephan Puetz

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (December 6, 2016) – M-1 Global has announced a blockbuster match-up to kick-off its 2017 season as undefeated M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Rashid Yusupov takes on former titlist Stephan “T-800” Puetz in the M-1 Challenge 74 main event, February 18, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The 24-year-old Yusupov (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), fighting out of Dagestan, Russia, will be making his first title defense having captured his coveted belt this past May at M-1 Challenge 66, by way of a 5-round unanimous decision over defending champion Viktor Nemkov.

Yusupov (2 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), representing Gorets fight club (Highlander), has three other victories in M-1 Challenge competition over Martin Zawada (DEC3), Mitry Madvedev (KO/TKO1 – Punch) and Charles Andrade (DEC3).

Puetz, 29, has won six of seven M-1 Challenge fights going into fifth title fight. The talented German (5 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) from Team Spirit burst upon the M-1 Global scene 2 ½ years ago, at M-1 Challenge 46, when he challenged M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Nemkov that ended in a 5-round split decision in favor of the new champion, Puetz.

Puetz successfully defended his title, in order, against Luis Fernando(SUB2 – Choke) and Valery Myasnikov (KO2 – Punches), followed with a Super Fight knockout (nose injury) of M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura in the third round of their May 2, 2015 non-title fight at M-1 Challenge 72. Puetz then lost his title to Nemkov by way of a 5-round majority decision in the M-1 Challenge 63 Fight of the Night.

To get back into title contention, Puetz won his last two fights against Andrey Seledtsov (DEC3) and Marcus Vinicius (SUB3 – Choke) this past October at M-1 Challenge 71.

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Shlemenko submits Vasilevsky to capture M-1 Grand Prix middleweight championship

June 18, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

Volkov KOs Vegh to retain

M-1 Challenge heavyweight title

M-1 Challenge 68

OFFICIAL RESULTS

New M-1 Grand Prix middleweight champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (June 17, 2016) – Former three-time Bellator champion Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko submitted Vyacheslav Vasilevsky to capture the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Championship, while fellow Russian Alexander “Drago” Volkov knocked out Attila “Pumukli” Vegh, last night at M-1 Challenge 68 in St. Petersburg, Russia’s Yubileyny Sports Palace.

Shlemenko (53-9-0, M-1: 4-0-0) qualified for the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight final as did reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (14-3-0, M-1: 8-1-0). Leading up to their showdown, however, Emeev suffered ligament damage to his elbow, forcing him out of his fight with Shlemenko. Vasilevsky (28-5-0, M-1: 10-3-0), who Shlemenko had defeated by decision in the M-1 Grand Prix middleweight semifinals, accepted the challenge to replace Emeev a rematch. Shlemenko used a choke hold to submit the always tough Vasilevsky in the third round.

In his first M-1 Challenge heavyweight title defense, Volkov (26-6-0, M-1: 9-3-0) stopped Vegh (11-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), fighting out of Slovakia, in the opening round.

M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov

In other main event fights, Russian welterweight Sergey Romonav (9-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0) defeated Andreas Birgels (12-10-0, M-1: 0-1-0), of Germany, by way of a first-round technical knockout, Russian welterweight Abukar Yandiev (5-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0) submitted Greek-born American Tony Christodoulou (12-7-0, M-1: 0-1-0) in the opening round, Russian middleweight Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasnikov (10-1-2, M-1: 1-1-2) and Spaniard Enoc Solves Torres (18-9-1, M-1: 5-6-1) fought to a three-round draw.

On the preliminary card, Ukrainian featherweight Andrei “Iron” Lezhnev (8-5-0, M-1: 2-2-0) choked out Russian foe Kuznetsov (5-2-0 (M-1: 2-2-0). Russian lightweight Alexey “Ataman” Makhno (11-4-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russian heavyweight Anton Vyazigin (6-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russian welterweight Maksim Grabovich (4-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0) and Belarussian lightweight Maksim Pugachev (3-0-00, M-1 1-0-0) all won their matches by unanimous three-round decisions.

Complete results and photo gallery below:

MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT – M-1 GRAND PRIX MIDDLEWEIHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Alexander Shlemenko (53-9-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia

WSUB3

Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-5-0, M-1: 10-2-0), Russia

(Sclemenko won M-1 Grand Prix middleweight title)

CO-FEATURE – M-1 CHALLENGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Alexander Volkov (26-6-0, M-1: 10-3-0), Russia

WKO1

Attila Vegh (11-2-0, M-1: 7-2-0), Slovakia

(Volkov retained M-1 Challenge heavyweight title)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Enoc Solves Torres (18-9-1, M-1: 5-6-1)

DRAW3

Valery Myasnikov (10-1-2, M-1: 1-1-2)

WELTERWEIGHTS

Sergei Romanov (9-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia

WTKO1

Andreas Birgels (12-10-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Germany

Abukar Yandiev (5-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia

WSUB1

Tony Christodoulou (12-7-0, M-1: 0-1-0), USA

PRELIMINARY CARD

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Anton Vyazigin (6-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

Daniil Arepyev (5-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia

WELTERWEIGHTS

Maksim Grabovich (4-2-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

Danila Prikaza (3-1-1, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Alexey Makhno (11-4-0, M-1: 3-1-0), Russia

WDEC3

Felipe Rego (7-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

Murodzhon Kodirov (2-0-0), M-1: 1-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

Maksim Pugachev (2-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0)

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Andrei Lezhnev (8-5-0, M-1: 2-2-0), Ukraine

WSUB1

Mikhail Kuznetsov (5-2-0, M-1: 2-2-0), Russia

Vasilvesky & Shlemenko

Volkov & Vegh

Christodoulou & Yandiev

Torres & Myasnikov

Grabovich & Prikaza

Kodirov & Pugachev

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M-1 CHALLENGE 68 OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

June 17, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

M-1 Challenge 68

WATCH ON M-1GLOBAL.TV

Thursday, June 16 at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT in U.S.A.

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT – M-1 GRAND PRIX MIDDLEWEIHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5

ALEXANDER “Storm” SHLEMENKO (52-9-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia 184 1/2 lbs. (83.7 kg)

vs.

VYACHESLAV VASILEVSKY (28-4-0, M-1: 10-2-0), Russia 185 lbs. (84.0 kg)

CO-FEATURE – M-1 CHALLENGE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5

ALEXANDER “Drago” VOLKOV (25-6-0, M-1: 9-3-0), Russia 238 lbs. (108.0 kg)

vs.

ATTILA “Pumukli” VEGH (11-1-0, M-1: 7-1-0), Slovakia 220 lbs. (100.1 kg)

WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

SERGEI ROMANOV (8-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia 169 1/2 lbs. (76.9 kg)

vs.

ANDREAS BIRGELS (12-9-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Germany 169 1/2 lbs. (76.9 kg)

ABUKAR YANDIEV (4-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia 175 lbs. (79.5 kg)

vs.

TONY CHRISTODOULOU (12-6-0, M-1: 0-0-0), USA 177 1/2 lbs. (80.5 kg)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS — 3 X 5

ENOC SOLVES TORRES (18-9-0, M-1: 5-6-0), Spain 183 1/2 lbs. (83.7 kg)

vs.

VALERY “The Russian Hammer” MYASNIKOV (10-1-1, M-1: 1-1-1), Russia 184 1/2 lbs. (83.7 kg)

PRELIMINARY CARD

HEAVYWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

DANIIL AREPYEV (5-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 271 lbs. (123.3 kg)

vs.

ANTON VYAZIGIN (5-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 249 lbs. (113.5 kg)

WELTERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

DANILA PRIKAZA (3-0-1, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia 169 1/2 lbs. (77.0 kg)

vs.

MAKSIM GRABOVICH (3-2-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Russia 169 1/2 lbs. (76.9 kg)

LIGHTWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

FELIPE REGO (7-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Brazil 154 1/2 lbs. (70.2 kg)

vs.

ALEXEY “Ataman” MAKHNO (10-4-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia 154 1/2 lbs. (70.1 kg)

MURODZHON KODIROV (1-0-0), M-1: 0-0-0), Russia 151 1/2 lbs. (68.9 kg)

vs.

MAKSIM PUGACHEV (2-0-0, M-1: 0-0-0) 154 1/2 lbs. (70.2 kg)

FEATHERWEIGHTS – 3 X 5

ANDREI “Iron” LEZHNEV (7-5-0, M-1: 1-2-0), Ukraine 145 lbs. (65.9 kg)

vs.

MIKHAIL KUZNETSOV (5-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia 144 1/2 lbs. (65.6 kg)

WHEN: Thursday, June 16, 2016

WHERE: St. Petersburg, Russia

PROMOTER: M-1 Global

LIVE STREAM: www.m-1global.tv (11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT in USA)

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New M-1 Challenge Lightweight Champion Alexander Butenko decisions Artiom Damkovsy

June 7, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

M-1 CHALLENGE 67 RESULTS

New M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Alexander Butenko

BAKU, Azerbaijan (June 5, 2016) — Ukrainian fighter Alexander Butenko won a hard fought 5-round decision over Artiom Damkovsky last night to become the new M-1 Challenge lightweight champion in the M-1 Challenge 67 main event in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Butenko (41-11-2) and Damkovsky (20-10-0) battled from start to finish with Buntenko winning a unanimous decision to capture the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight title.

In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger (31-4-0), of Slovakia, used a North-South choke to submit his late replacement opponent, Russian Mikhail Korobkov (9-2-0), in a non-title fight.

Red-hot Kazakh welterweight Shavat Rakhmonov (6-0-0) kept rolling, knocking out Brazilian Marcelo Brito (13-8-0) in the opening round. Hometown favorite Etigat Adakishniev (1-1-0) won his first professional fight, submitting Spaniard Adrian Perez (3-2-0) by way of a guillotine choke.

Czech Republic had two winners on the main card as middleweight Talekh Nadzhafadz (5-1-0) won a 3-round decision over his Spanish opponent, Felipe “Biggi” Nsue (11-10-0), while heavyweight Zauer Gadzhibabayev (5-1-0) used a rear naked choke to submit Bulgarian Lazar Todev (2-3-0).

Fighting on the preliminary card, Russian lightweight Zalimbeg Omarov (7-1-1) and Russian featherweight Azamat Zhantuduev (1-2-0) won a 3-round decisions over, respectively, Mikhail Syrbu (4-2-0), of Moldova, and his fellow countryman Bair Shtepin (3-1-0). Russian heavyweight Evgeni Myakinkin (14-5-0) forced Evgeni Guryanov (8-6-0) to submit with a triangle choke, and Russian featherweights Vadin “Bad Santa” Malygin (6-1-1) and Ibragim Navrusov (2-0-1) fought to a 3-round draw.

Complete results and picture gallery below:

MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT – VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 X 5

ALEXANDER BUTENKO (41-11-2, M-1: 8-1-0), Ukraine

WDEC5

ARTIOM DAMKOVSKY (20-10-0, M-1: 10-7-0), Belarus

(Butenko wins vacant M-1 Challenge Challenge lightweight title)

FEATHERWEIGHTS

IVAN BUCHINGER (31-4-0, M-1: 6-0-0), Slovakia

WSUB1 (North-South choke)

MIKHAIL KOROBKOV (9-2-1, M-1: 0-2-0), Russia

WELTERWEIGHTS

SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV (6-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Kazakhstan

WTKO1

MARCELO BRITO (13-8-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

TALEKH NADZHFADE (5-1-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Czech Republic

WDEC3

FELIPE NSUE (11-10-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Spain

HEAVYWEIGHTS

ZAUR GADZHIBABAYEV (5-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0), Czech Republic

WSUB2 (Rear Naked Choke)

LAZAR TODEV (2-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia

PRELIMINARY CARD

LIGHTWEIGHTS

ZALIMBEG OMAROV (7-1-1, M-1: 4-0-1), Russia

WDEC3

MIKHAIL SYRBU (4-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Moldova

HEAVYWEIGHTS

EVGENI MYAKINKIN (14-5-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia

WSUB1 (Triangle Choke)

EVGENI GURYANOV (8-6-0, M-1: 1-3-0), Ukraine

FEATHERWEIGHTS

AZAMAT ZHANTUDUEV (2-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Russia

WDEC3

BAIR SHTEPIN (3-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Russia

VADIM MALYGIN (6-1-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia

DRAW3

IBRAGIM NAVRUZOV (2-0-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Russia

Alexander Butenko and Artiom Damkovsky

Azamat Zhantuduev & Bair Shtepin

Etigat Adakishiev

Ivan Buchinger

Vadim Malygin & Ibragim Navrusov

Zaur Gadzhibabayev & Lazar Todev

Upcoming Event:June 16, M-1 Challenge 68, St. Petersburg, Russia

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Idrisov withdraws with illness Korobkov Takes on Buchinger in non-title fight M-1 Challenge lightweight title fight Butenko vs. Damkovsky new main event

June 2, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (June 1, 2016) – A sudden illness has forced Magomed Idrisov to withdraw from his scheduled M-1 Challenge featherweight title fight this Saturday (June 4) against defending champion Ivan “Buki” Buchinger at M-1 Challenge 67: Battle in the Land of Fireat Baku, Azerbaijan.

(L-R) – Mikhail Korobkov and Ivan Buchinger

Mikhail Korobkov (9-1-1, M-1: 0-1-1), of Russia, is the late replacement for Idrisov but, due to Korobkov coming off of a loss in his last fight (decision to Timur Nagibin last Friday atM-1 Challenge 66), his fight versus Buchinger (30-4-0, M-1: 5-0-0) is a not for the title and it has been downgraded from main event to co-feature. Buchinger, fighting out of Slovakia, has won his last nine fights dating back four years.

The new main event matches Alexander “Iron Capture” Butenko (40-11-2, M-1: 7-1-0), of Ukraine, and BelarussianArtiom Damkovsky (20-9-0. M-1: 10-6-0) for the vacant M-1 Challenge lightweight championship.

M-1 Challenge 67 will be streamed live from Azerbaijan 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.

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

Vyacheslav Vasilevsky replaces injured Ramazan Emeev vs. Alexander Shlemenko

May 18, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Championship

M-1 Challenge 68, June 16 in St. Petersburg, Russia

(L-R) – Vyacheslav Vasilevsky & Alexander Shlemenko

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (May 17, 2016) – Former M-1 Challenge light heavyweight and middleweight champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-4-0, M-1: 10-2-0) has stepped up to replace injured Ramazan Emeev against Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko (52-9-0, M-1: 3-0-0) in the final of the M-1 Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament, headlining

M-1 Challenge 68, June 16 at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Emeev (14-3-0, M-1: 8-1-0) suffered a torn ligament in his elbow during training camp. In a M-1 Challenge Grand Prix Middleweight Tournament semifinals match last February, Vasilevsky lost a majority decision to Shlemenko in the M-1 Challenge 64 Fight of the Night.

“We were in a very difficult situation after Ramazan Emeev got injured,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein explained. “The whole event was in jeopardy. So, now, we’re grateful to Vyacheslav Vasilevsky for agreeing to step in and face Shlemenko in our M-1 Grand Prix finals being held on his (Vasilevsky) birthday.

“Due to our contract obligations, we were unable to postpone the event because it is officially included in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, which is something every one of our fighters knew from the very beginning. There’s a paragraph in the Grand Prix fighters’ contract stating we can use one of the guys who fought in the semifinals of the tournament in case someone gets injured. Now we’re making one of the most anticipated rematches in the history of Russian MMA.”

M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (25-6-0, M-1: 9-3-0) will make his first title defense against Attila “Pumuklo” Vegh (29-6-2, M-1: 0-0-0) at M-1 Challenge 68. A match between Russian middleweight Valery “The Russian Hammer” Myasnikov (10-1-1, M-1: 1-1-1) and Spanish veteran Enoc Solves Torres (18-9-0, M-1: 5-6-0) has also been announced for the June 16^th card.

“The M-1 Challenge 68 event is going to be huge,” Finkelchtein added. “We’re stacking the card with Alexander Volkov vs Attila Vegh fighting in an M-1 Challenge heavyweight title fight. The Grand Prix winner, Shlemenko still gets $50,000. As for Ramazan Emeev, we will put efforts into arranging his fight with Alexander Shlemenko this fall, if Shlemenko is still fighting in Russia. Emeev versus Shlemenko will provide the answer to all of the questions MMA fans still arguing about.”

M-1 Challenge 68 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.

Upcoming M-1 Global Events:

May 27 – M-1 Challenge 66: Nemkov vs. Yusopov, Orenburg City, Russia

June 4 – M-1 Challenge 67: Buchinger vs. Idrisov, Baku, Azerbaijan

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