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Faces Tough German Prospect – Christian Eckerlin

Ukrainian National Hand-to-Hand Combat Champion and Pankration World Champion, Alexander Agafonov (2-1) has shown incredible potential in his young mixed martial arts career and has been awarded a shot at competing in the 2010 M-1 Selection European Tournament. As a special tournament quarter-final bout at the M-1 Ukraine European Battle on Saturday June 4th, Agafonov will put his skills to the test against rising German prospect, Christian Eckerlin (6-1). Fans can capture the action from inside the National Circus Arena in Kiev starting at 11am EST / 8am PST via LIVE streaming telecast on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page.
As one of the participants in M-1 Fighter, Russia’s first foray into mixed martial arts reality-TV, Agafonov may not have won his weight category but he caught the eyes of producers and the M-1 brass with his skills, determination and willingness to learn.

In his professional debut against Moses Shahinyan, Agafonov battled his way to a unanimous decision victory. Nearly one year later, he followed up with an impressive armbar submission win over Yuri Shertyuk, showing that his training time is producing much desired results. Looking to take a step up in competition, the aspiring Ukrainian took on undefeated Habib Nurmagomedov and was unable to answer the bell for the third frame and took the first loss of his career.

Ready to continue making his mark in the welterweight division and live up to his high expectations, Agafonov enters the ring against another tough competitor in a fight no one is giving him a chance at winning. If he’s able to overcome his underdog status and knock off Eckerlin, he may just be able to mount a run at the tournament finals championship.

LIVE broadcast coverage of the M-1 Ukraine European Battle will be available to viewers worldwide on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page starting at 11:00am EST / 8:00am PST.

The 2011 European M-1 Selection tournament second quarterfinal round will be held July 16th, 2011; entitled Battle on the Neva River 5, the event will hail seaside in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Global is now in full-swing preparation for its fourth mega-event of 2011 scheduled for Friday July 8th from inside the United States. M-1 Challenge XXVI is headlined with undefeated, #1 Ranked heavyweight prospect Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) putting his belt on the line for the second time against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2). In co-main event action, newly crowned Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa (10-4) makes his first title defense against feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

‘Guram is Coming’ video teaser:

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments held throughout Europe and North America in 2011.

For additional information, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page.

Yuri Ivlev (16-7) was seemingly unstoppable through 2009/10 as he racked up six consecutive victories, five by way of explosive knock out or punishing TKOs but it was Daniel Weichel and Mairbek Taisumov who derailed his train in incredibly exciting, back to back fights. Intent on shaking off the pair of losses, Ivlev faces former lightweight champion, Artiom Damkovsky (8-5) as a special attraction bout at the M-1 Ukraine European Battle on Saturday June 4th. Fans can capture the action from inside the National Circus Arena in Kiev starting at 11am EST / 8am PST via LIVE streaming telecast on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page. The crafty, heavy-handed striker with exceptional submission skills will be aiming to secure his position as a top-contender in the 155Lb division and move closer to a shot at the title.

A product of the Legion Fight Team and training with notables Ansar Chalangov and Magomed ‘The Eagle’ Shikshabekov, it’s little wonder why the Russian fighter has made more than ripples on route to an impressive 16-7 record. Possessing what many claim as Olympic-level judo and world-class sambo skills, Ivlev has been outclassing opponents time and time again with abilities seeming to improve exponentially with every round clocked. He’s exciting, versatile, packs an arsenal of submissions and his striking is crisp and precise.

Making his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2003 versus Magomed Magomedov, Ivlev started off with a respectable 6-2 record with all victories coming by way of early submissions, earning him the reputation of being one of the most-feared submission technicians in the 155lb weight class; his spectacular hip toss, transition to armbar submission victory over Carlos Valeri at M-1 Challenge IV Battle on the Neva River had HDNet calling it one of the top submissions of 2008. This nightmarish warrior is a phenomenal grappler who poses serious problems for lightweights around the world and has rightfully earned a place on the North American radar.

Ivlev’s striking became evident after his loss to Karen Grigoryan at the M-1 MFC – Northwest Championships in 2007; he evolved his game and successfully closed out seven of his last ten victories with heavy-handed one-punch knockouts or devastating ground and pound; victims of his punishment include Mario Stapel, Daniel Thomas and Ivan Jorge.

With his flashy techniques, awesome suplexes, fluid spinning high kicks and will-breaking ground and pound, Yuri Ivlev is a truly marketable Russian that the U.S. fan-base is becoming more familiar with. Considered the favourite heading into the bout against Damkovsky, Ivlev is in full control of his fighting future; a win proves this talented, versatile fighter can bounce back from a pair of tough losses in the fashion that he is known for and that the all-around impressive mixed martial artist is truly deserving of a future title shot. Keep a watchful eye out for his ‘Eddie Alvarez-esque’ celebratory back-flips from the top ropes as he aims to create havoc for Damkovsky and jaw-dropping memories for the fans.

LIVE broadcast coverage of the M-1 Ukraine European Battle will be available to viewers worldwide on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page starting at 11:00am EST / 8:00am PST.

The 2011 European M-1 Selection tournament second quarterfinal round will be held July 16th, 2011; entitled Battle on the Neva River 5, the event will hail seaside in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Global is now in full-swing preparation for its fourth mega-event of 2011 scheduled for Friday July 8th from inside the United States. M-1 Challenge XXVI is headlined with undefeated, #1 Ranked heavyweight prospect Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) putting his belt on the line for the second time against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2). In co-main event action, newly crowned Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa (10-4) makes his first title defense against feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

‘Guram is Coming’ video teaser:

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments held throughout Europe and North America in 2011.

Former Lightweight Champion Eager For Redmeption

After losing his lightweight title to Jose Figueroa in a one-sided beating, Artiom Damkovsky (8-5) returns on a quest to clamor back into title contention; the Belorussian officer’s first roadblock to his ultimate goal is the versatile submission specialist, Yuri Ivlev (16-7). The pair of talented fighters meet as a special attraction bout at the M-1 Ukraine European Battle on Saturday June 4th. Fans can capture the action from inside the National Circus Arena in Kiev starting at 11am EST / 8am PST via LIVE streaming telecast on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page

The 25 year old Belarusian captured the inaugural M-1 Lightweight Championship bout with a victory over Mairbek Taisumov at M-1 Challenge XXI, one of the card’s most exciting battles and later named as M-1’s Most Exciting Fight of 2010; Damkovsky weathered a first-round storm to comeback and punish Taisumov in the third with jumping knees and outside leg-kicks. While trying to fend off the relentless attack, Taisumov took an unintentional finger to the eye which the ringside physician deemed enough to warrant a stoppage and declaring Damkovsky the victor. Unable to defend his title against Figueroa, the loss marked his defeat in six outings

Since making his professional debut against Vladimir Ermolaev at Shooto Belarus – Bushido in July 2006, Damkovsky struggled through adversity early in his career as he continued to develop his talents; his turn around came with a victory against Hiroyuki Abe and he hadn’t looked back since, creating a run that capped off 2010 with incredible performances through the 2010 Eastern Europe M-1 Selection tournament. His ‘Cinderella story’ torrent through the brackets included back-to-back-to-back decisions, marking Damkovsky’s battles as the toughest passes to championship status across the tournament brackets in any region.

Inside the gruelling tournament structure, Damkovsky showcased an incredible combination of power, speed and skill that he uses effectively to wear out his opponents. He possesses a keen awareness for ring positioning which enables him to unleash stinging leg kicks and spinning back-fists and to engage in taunting cat-and-mouse counters; with an innate ability to take down his opponents with ease, it’s not uncommon for Damkovsky to put his opponents on the ground just to stand back up to his feet as if to say ‘I can take you down any time. Now get up and let’s go.’

Although only 5’8”, Damkovsky possesses a substantial reach and its clear this talented prospect understands how to effectively use this advantage. Being able to sit back and counter with explosive, powerful striking comparable to a welterweight, the Belarusian has shown to be extremely tactical in his game plan and apt in his defence; he’s also proven to critics that he has a durable chin capable of taking the heaviest of shots and then continue on relentlessly.

No matter where this fight goes, Damkovsky is in for a fight against an opponent with more experience fighting tougher competition. The former lightweight champ will need be wary of Ivlev’s striking and submission arsenals while mounting his offensives off effective counter punching; ironically, Damkovsky needs to prepare a game plan for a long drawn out battle that will likely not go to the judges.

LIVE broadcast coverage of the M-1 Ukraine European Battle will be available to viewers worldwide on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page starting at 11:00am EST / 8:00am PST.

The 2011 European M-1 Selection tournament second quarterfinal round will be held July 16th, 2011; entitled Battle on the Neva River 5, the event will hail seaside in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Global is now in full-swing preparation for its fourth mega-event of 2011 scheduled for Friday July 8th from inside the United States. M-1 Challenge XXVI is headlined with undefeated, #1 Ranked heavyweight prospect Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) putting his belt on the line for the second time against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2). In co-main event action, newly crowned Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa (10-4) makes his first title defense against feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

‘Guram is Coming’ video teaser:

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments held throughout Europe and North America in 2011.

Faces Yasubey Enomoto in Welterweight Contention Bout

Former M-1 middleweight champion, Rafal ‘Kulturysta’ Moks (6-3) is going through final training preparations for his bout against Swiss prospect Yasubey Enomoto (6-3) at the M-1 Ukraine European Battle, Saturday June 4th. Looking to get back on track and mount a run towards a future shot at current Welterweight Champion, Shamil Zavurov, Moks faces one of the biggest tests of his career against an opponent with overwhelming credentials. Fans can capture the action from inside the National Circus Arena in Kiev starting at 11am EST / 8am PST via LIVE streaming telecast on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page

In what would be considered M-1’s most exciting upset of 2010, Moks overcame his underdog status in epic fashion to capture the middleweight title with a tendon-tearing heel-hook submission victory over Magomed Sultanakhmedov, a win that also earned the card’s Submission of the Night honour. Knowing few were giving him any shot at winning, the Berserkers team member executed a clear game plan, taking the fight to the canvas sooner than expected and shocking the crowd.

With the victory, Moks became the first-ever M-1 Challenge middleweight champion, sitting at the top of a division that is deep with talented fighters. Unafraid of the competition but knowing that his promising career is better suited in the lighter divisions, Moks made the tough decision to relinquish his title in order to compete as a welterweight. M-1 Challenge XXIII marked Moks’ first outing in the 170-pound division since vacating the title and he got a rude introduction from Gorec Fight Team stand-out, Rashid Magomedov, who battered Moks inside the opening frame; although working through a series of seemingly inescapable submission attempts, the Polish fighter took a dastardly TKO loss at the 2:05 mark of Round 1.

Moks has proven cardio, a chin that can withstand power punches and a thick, compact, 5’8” frame which enables him to fight off his back with confidence; his record is decorated with five hi-light reel submission victories so finishing on the ground is second nature. He holds the all keys to build a run towards a shot at the Zavurov’s welterweight title. Looking to shake off his recent loss, Moks is once again considered the underdog and will have his hands full with Enomoto, a tough competitor possessing a decorated BJJ and grappling record which dwarfs Moks’ submission experience.

2010 was a great year for the Polish fighter, earning the 2010 M-1 Selections Western Europe championship title with impressive performances throughout the tournament; the talented submission fighter needed just 4:19 to secure a fight-ending rear-naked choke over Serghei Popa in the quarter-finals and 4:56 to dispose of Danijel Dzebic thanks to a suffocating guillotine choke in the semis; both fights showcasing Moks ever improving ground game.
With the back-to-back wins, Moks secured himself a spot in the Finals against Ahmed Bayrak; a highly anticipated, back and forth middleweight clash that went three full frames, culminating with the judges awarding Moks the unanimous decision victory.

If he can pull out another miracle underdog win over Enomoto, Moks will be closer to earning a shot at Zavurov’s welterweight strap.

LIVE broadcast coverage of the M-1 Ukraine European Battle will be available to viewers worldwide on the official M-1 Global website (www.M-1Global.com) and M-1 Global facebook fan page starting at 11:00am EST / 8:00am PST.

The 2011 European M-1 Selection tournament second quarterfinal round will be held July 16th, 2011; entitled Battle on the Neva River 5, the event will hail seaside in St. Petersburg, Russia.

M-1 Global is now in full-swing preparation for its fourth mega-event of 2011 scheduled for Friday July 8th from inside the United States. M-1 Challenge XXVI is headlined with undefeated, #1 Ranked heavyweight prospect Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) putting his belt on the line for the second time against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2). In co-main event action, newly crowned Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa makes his first title defense against feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

‘Guram is Coming’ video teaser

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments held throughout Europe and North America in 2011.

With the attention surrounding mixed martial arts #1 Ranked Heavyweight Prospect Guram Gugenishvili continuing to build, Europe’s leading promotion, M-1 Global launches it’s “Who Is Guram” viral contest which will run through M-1 Challenge XXVI on July 8th. Fans showing their support of the event and undefeated fighter have a shot at winning great prizes including t-shirts, autographed event posters and gloves and ringside tickets to the event.

“Since Leland Rowling’s article on BloodyElbow.com came out, Guram’s presence within the sport has exploded,” says M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “The fact that Guram is headlining M-1 Challenge XXVI with his second title defense against Pat Bennett on July 8th has only compounded his rise in popularity. M-1 will do everything it can to help promote the fighters and the event and this contest is a great way to help the fan base learn more about this aspiring prospect.”

From May 18th to July 9th, fans who ‘like’ the M-1 Global and Guram facebook fan pages and change their profile picture to the M-1 Challenge XXVI “Guram is Coming’ event picture through July 9th will be eligible for great weekly prizes. Winners will be randomly selected each Friday and announced Monday July 11th. Fans who post facts about the Georgian powerhouse on the facebook pages will have an increased chance of being selected as a prize winner.

Ringside ticket winners will be contacted directly during fight week.

M-1 Challenge XXVI is headlined with Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) putting his belt on the line for the second time against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2). In co-main event action, newly crowned Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa makes his first title defense against feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

The July 8th event marks M-1 Global’s second Stateside event of 2011.

What to do: fans must ‘like’ the M-1 and Guram facebook fan pages and change their facebook profile picture to the ‘Guram is Coming’ event picture; the event poster must stay up until July 9th.

When: the contest runs from Thursday May 19th to Saturday July 9th

What can be won: weekly prize winners will be selected at random and announced on Saturday July 9th. Prizes include: M-1 Challenge XXVI event t-shirts, signed event posters, signed Guram gloves and ringside tickets to the July 8th event.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted sho

A closer look at M-1 Challenge XXVI’s Lightweight Title Showdown!

In the co-main event attraction at M-1 Challenge XXVI: Guram vs. Bennett on Friday July 8th, newly crowned Lightweight Champion, Jose ‘The People’s Champ’ Figueroa faces feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel in his first title defense since seizing the strap from Artiom Damkovsky. The differences in Weichel’s fighting style are extreme: Weichel boasts a vault of experience, pin-point precision striking and exceptional Jiu Jitsu credentials. Other than the height and reach advantage, the pair match up well and Figueroa stands to face his toughest competitor to date.
Usurping the belt from Artiom Damkovsky with a statement-making performance, Figueroa also seized new found confidence; he rides a momentous three fight win streak and rightfully deserves to be the crowning jewel of Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion’s lightweight division.

Since taking his fight against Yuri Ivlev on short notice, Weichel has proven to be one of the divisions most exciting fighters and subsequently secured himself a 6-fight contract and fast-tracked into title contention. Needless to say, Weichel’s commitment and dedication to MMA has paid off big time.

At 6’3”, Figueroa is a monstrous lightweight by any standard and has been fighting high-level competition from day one; he’s a tough competitor holding a respectable 10-4 record as a professional fighter, thanks to winning the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas tournament which was followed with winning the championship belt. His only skid – three fights though 2009 / 2010 against Eric Reynolds, Edson Barboza and Luis Palomino, who have a combined record of 36-11.

At 26 years old, Weichel has been fighting professionally since 2002, racked up an impressive 26-7 record and has won eight of his last nine tilts. North Americans fans are quick to recognize him thanks to bouts versus Thiago Tavares, Dan Hardy and Paul Daley. With experience that has been hard-fought and earned through international passage with organizations including Shooto, King of the Cage, Cage Warriors and the UFC, one of his most notable victories comes against Dennis Siver.

The key to Figueroa successfully defending his belt depends on his ability to effectively leverage his height and reach advantage over Weichel; frustrate Weichel by keeping him at bay using rapid-fire, in and out combinations and time his counters to set up takedowns. When the pair hit the mat, Figueroa needs to show his overwhelming top control on the ground, post up and rain down bombs. From top position, his size will present too much to handle and tire Weichel out, opening the opportunity to pound out the win.

Weichel’s shot depends on which ‘Figueroa’ shows up; if it’s the one who fought Damkovsky, he’s in for a fight and will need to be wary of Figueroa’s reach and relentless aggression. Keys to Weichel’s victory depend on effective counter punching and ability to reverse positions on the mat; Weichel can’t end up on his back taking punishment. If the lackadaisical Figueroa shows up, like the one fans saw during moments of the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas tournament, Weichel will have a significant speed advantage and will be able to tag Figueroa at will, score a knock down or single leg takedown and lock in one of his repertoires inescapable submissions or pound the champ out himself.

Both fighters prefer to avoid the judges in favour of controlling their own destinies, setting the stage for an explosive title defense between two fighters at the top of their games. For Figueroa to continue his Cinderella run, he’ll once again need to deliver a career performance against Daniel Weichel’s vast vault of experience, speedy striking and stealth submissions.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

Capitalizing on his opportunities inside M-1 Global’s five-rope ring, Daniel Weichel’s commitment and dedication to MMA has paid off big time. With a late replacement win over Yuri Ivlev at Challenge XXI, one of the night’s most exciting fights, the talented lightweight from Michelstadt, Hesse, Germany was awarded with a 6-fight exclusive contract. His first bout of the new agreement came against Magomed Khasbulaev and the slick submission specialist locked down a textbook triangle submission victory; these back to back victories launched Weichel into title contention and the vastly experienced warrior has been awarded with an opportunity to stand under the championship spotlights. On July 8th, Weichel will meet newly crowned champion, Jose Figueroa in the United States in the co-main event of M-1 Challenge XXVI: Guram vs. Bennett.

At 26 years old, Weichel has been fighting professionally since 2002, racked up an impressive 26-7 record and has won eight of his last nine tilts. North Americans fans are quick to recognize him thanks to bouts versus Thiago Tavares, Dan Hardy and Paul Daley. With experience that has been hard-fought and earned through international passage with organizations including Shooto, King of the Cage, Cage Warriors and the UFC, one of his most notable victories comes against Dennis Siver.

Weichel’s made it clear he prefers to avoid the judges’ scorecards in favour of finishing fights in exciting fashion; he possesses the exceptional athleticism and dexterity and capable of scooping the single or double leg takedown effortlessly as a precursor to a submission. Should Weichel end up in full mount or side control, expect to see contusion-creating knees to the body and a devastating ground-and-pound that will fire holes through even the most steadfast defence. If the fight stays up, he’ll tag you from every angle and can issue skull-cracking knees at will. Simply put: Weichel adds some serious depth to M-1 Global’s lightweight division and is a considerable threat to the monstrous 6’3” Figueroa.

As a true lightweight by North American standards, Weichel fluctuated between weight classes early on which put him in unfavourable positions fighting significantly larger opponents. Since being dedicated to the 155lb class, Weichel has achieved considerable success having won eight of his last nice matches, which include a rear-naked-choke submission victory over M-1 Selection Tournament lightweight finalist, Victor Kuku.

Taking the fight against Yuri Ivlev on short notice thanks to Eric Reynolds being forced to withdraw due to a late-training-camp knee injury, seems to be a blessing in disguise for Weichel who stepped into the spotlight of an already showcased bout and has made it an even larger focal point. The victory made an impression with the M-1 Global brass. “Weichel’s domination of Ivlev was talked about for weeks after the event,” said M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “Daniel is the type of fighter we want secured within our organization – fighters with heart, talent and relentless desire to give it their all; he possesses all the traits of a future champion and now he has his shot to become one.” Weichel’s clash with Ivlev was deserving of co-main event status as he electrified the crowd with his arsenal of skills. With a packed house anticipating a display of supreme submission attempts, Weichel altered the game plan and elected to keep it on the feet and out-struck Ivlev in an epic stand up battle.

Riding a three fight streak of his own, Weichel will roll into the Unites States as the underdog against Figueroa when they meet July 8th. But with his vast vault of experience, speedy striking and stealth submissions, he’s presented with a perfect opportunity to make the champ’s first defense a miserable and horrific experience.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

As the headliner on M-1 Global’s stateside debut on Showtime, ‘The People’s Champ’ usurped his newly adorned belt with a dominating destruction of Artiom Damkovsky. With fans tuning in from around the world, Figueroa issued a statement-making performance showing why he deserves to be the crowning jewel of Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion’s lightweight division. Ready to make his first defense, the American Top Team standout is diligently preparing for his upcoming bout on July 8th against feared German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel; the pair meet as the co-main event at M-1 Challenge XXVI: Guram vs. Bennett.

Hailing from Orlando, Florida ‘The People’s Champ’ is a role model to the sport and to his son. As a professional fighter, he fuels the growth of mixed martial arts to the younger generation of students and prospects though instruction to groups and individuals seeking to develop their own skill set. “Mixed martial arts is my college, my job and my profession,” says a modest Figueroa. “I teach and train everyday to further the sport and to take care of my family. I’m a father and having my little boy look up to me and want to do all the things I do is awesome.”

Standing at 6’3”, Figueroa is a monstrous lightweight who made his professional debut in 2006 with a decisive TKO Victory over Chandler Belaston. From here, he went on to win another three consecutive bouts before tasting his first defeat by way of submission thanks to a suffocating guillotine choke sunk in by notable Jonathan Brookins. The loss was shaken off and Figueroa went on a three-fight tear before falling off the horse and losing three straight. Some may see the string of losses as a fighter losing his game and ability – until you look deeper into the story. These three losses came against top-tier competition: Eric Reynolds, Edson Barboza and Luis Palomino, who have a combined record of 36-11. Figueroa has been fighting high level competition from day one and is one tough competitor himself holding a respectable 10-4 record as a professional fighter currently hailed as M-1 Global’s Lightweight Champion.

In his performances throughout the 2010 M-1 Selection tournament, Figueroa effectively utilized his reach advantage and showed overwhelming control on the ground; fighting from guard, the imposing fighter is capable of posting up and dropping down heavy strikes at will and has solid conditioning that go the distance should the three wise men sitting ringside need to decide the outcome.

Coming out of his tournament bouts against Josh Thorpe and George ‘Light’s Out’ Sheppard relatively unscathed, “The People’s Champ” waited patiently for his title shot after winning the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas lightweight brackets and seized an unprecedented victory that shot him on to the radar of MMA fans throughout North America.

Considered the favourite heading into his title fight against Damkovsky, Figueroa wasted no time after touching gloves to open the contest and immediately went to work, effectively utilizing his reach advantage with crisp jabs as Damkovsky countered with high kicks that couldn’t land. Early inside the first round, it was clearly evident that Figueroa was the much bigger and stronger fighter as he powered around the canvass while Damkovsky struggled to stay out the American’s massive reach. With relentless follow up, Figueroa rocked Damkovsky with a shot that spit up his nose and then drove a text-book takedown where he worked from guard and rained down heavy strikes which left Damkovsky battered and bloodied at the end of an explosive first round.

With blood spewing from his nose, Damkovsky delayed as long as he could to start the second but Figueroa continued where he left off, countering Damkovsky’s leg kicks and setting up a phenomenal slam into top position where he unleashed piston-pumping strikes to his opponent’s face that was drenched in blood, spattering a halo around his head’s imprint on the canvass. With Damkovsky’s defense destroyed and unable to escape the storm of shots, the referee in charge intervened to halt the one-sided beating at 2:28 of round two, crowning Figueroa the new champion on M-1’s SHOWTIME debut.

With the momentous win, Figueroa is determined to extend his current three fight streak with a victorious title defense on July 8th; to continue his Cinderella run, he’ll once again need to deliver a career performance against Daniel Weichel’s vast vault of experience, speedy striking and stealth submissions.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.
2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

There is a reason why Guram Gugenishvili stands as the sports #1-ranked heavyweight prospect; since making his debut in July of 2009, the Georgian powerhouse has built up an impressive undefeated 11-0 record leaving a long list of opponents busted, bloodied or unconscious in his devastating wake. When this emotionless giant makes his first venture overseas on July 8th, standing opposite him under the championship spotlights at M-1 Challenge XXVI will be decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett; the New Jersey native and Team Bombsquad fighter will need to deliver a career performance that shocks the crowd in order to stop the freight train headed directly in his path.

Fighting out of Makariv, Kiev Oblast in the Ukraine, Gugenishvili transitioned to the Aris Sport Club earlier this year, where a modern facility is set to provide him the tools to become an even more dominant force. Although in a new team, Guram remains under the instruction of Coach Ioseb Koberidze, who is dedicated to improving his pupil’s striking and jiu Jitsu.

As a key member of the Team Bombsquad contingent, Bennett’s manager, Ryan Ciotoli, has nothing but praise for the heavyweight’s performances to date. “Pat’s a three time All-American wrestler, so he possesses a great base and he’s an electrifying striker; hence the reason for his five first round wins. I definitely consider Bennett to be the top contender in the heavyweight division.”

It’s a given both coaches back up their fighters’ abilities but how do these men actually stack up against each other?

No one has been able to expose holes in Guram’s abilities to date. All but two of his victories have ended early in the first round and seven of these come by way of suffocating, anaconda-like rear naked chokes. Aspiring fighters often rely on one or two bases early in their career and Guram is no different; he has a sound freestyle wrestling base that he leverages to set up submissions but there is room to improve. Guram and his coach are actively improving his sambo and striking techniques while also working in boxing and Muay Thai sessions. He has the confidence, work ethic and determination to elevate his proficiency in all fighting styles and evolve into an even more fearsome, versatile fighter. Simply put: Gugenishvili is proving himself as the top-ranked heavyweight prospect in MMA and the global fan base has no choice other than to take notice.

As the winner of the inaugural 2010 M-1 Selection Eastern European tournament and Europe’s leading MMA promotion’s reigning heavyweight champion, what’s most notable about Guram is his agility; at 6’4” and 250lbs, he moves around the ring lightly, maintaining precise ring positioning. He’s methodical, calm and systematic in his movements.

Bennett sports an established 7-2 combined amateur and professional mixed martial arts record heavily weighted in the ‘win’ column with five first-round TKO’s. Although known for his proud wrestling pedigree, Bennett has thus proven he is a multidimensional fighter able to transition his skills to whatever is set in front of him; he’ll need his full arsenal in the face of Guram and isn’t shying away from the champ in any respect.

Bennett had recently set his wrestling on the back burner in favour of striking throughout his 2010 M-1 Selection Americas tournament run, displaying a wide array of talents. Opening up the brackets against Nick Smiley, the mild-mannered monster needed a total of 37 seconds to destroy Smiley by TKO and leave him in the ring busted and bloodied. His semi-final bout was a marathon war with Mehdi Hassan where he earned a unanimous decision victory. The run was halted in the finals however as Bennett fell victim to Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner’s lead left hook; unable to answer Garner’s striking, Bennett notched the second loss of his career via TKO at the midway point of the opening frame.

At 6’ 3”, 240 pounds, Bennett has heavy hands that deliver unforgiving power; if he connects with his overhand right, there is a real possibility to see Guram fall. But Bennett will have to successfully defend takedown attempts and push the pace as he sees fit while being cautiously aware of Guram’s strength. These monsters matchup extremely well: both possesses strong wrestling bases, are incredibly strong and are mirror images physically, the only difference in their builds is a two-inch height advantage and 10 pounds in favour of the champ. The heavyweight title fight against Guram will likely send Bennett back to his fundamental and highly decorated base, which presents a perfect stylistic matchup; Bennett’s slightly more compact frame should enable him to defend the takedown attempts and maintain centered, balanced ring positioning.

With the American crowd in his corner on July 8th, Bennett controls his own destiny as the underdog in the biggest fight of his career, intent to dethrone the world’s #1 ranked heavyweight prospect and build some much deserved clout of his own.

As the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Guram is now climbing the next steps of his professional career where the level and calibre of competition gets tougher. Extremely successful to date and able to manhandle his opponents at will, try to envision the type of fighter that Guram will evolve into with exposure to elite-level coaching and training in striking and jiu jitsu; incorporating these elements into his already powerful arsenal will make Guram a force to be reckoned with anywhere on the planet; his first foray outside of Europe already has the hype-train rolling into the United States with Pat Bennett eagerly awaiting his arrival.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.
2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

Standing on the brink of greatness, ready to cement himself as a crowd-shocking phenomenon at M-1 Challenge XXVI, decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett will stand opposite monster Georgian powerhouse and reigning Heavyweight Champion, Guram Gugenishvili on July 8th; dethroning Guram in the evening’s main event would catapult Bennett on to the radar of MMA fans around the world.

But there is a reason why Guram stands as the sports #1-ranked heavyweight prospect and the New Jersey native and Team Bombsquad fighter needs to deliver a career performance to make his championship dream a reality. Any mistakes and Bennett will be put to sleep and thrown into the deep list of those who have previously fallen in Guram’s devastating wake

Bennett sports an established 7-2 combined amateur and professional mixed martial arts record heavily weighted in the ‘win’ column with five first-round TKO’s. Although known for his proud wrestling pedigree, Bennett has thus proven he is a multidimensional fighter able to transition his skills to whatever is set in front of him; he’ll need his full arsenal in the face of Guram and isn’t shying away from the champ in any respect. “It’s no surprise that Guram is rated as high as he is. On one side he hasn’t gone more than 10 minutes, on the other side there is a reason for that. However my camp and I are very dedicated to bringing home the belt and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish this task. As far as Guram is concerned, I hope he packs a lunch because July 8th is going to be a long day.”

As a key member of the Team Bombsquad contingent, Bennett’s manager, Ryan Ciotoli, has nothing but praise for the heavyweight’s performances to date. “Pat’s a three time All-American wrestler, so he possesses a great base and he’s an electrifying striker; hence the reason for his five first round wins. I definitely consider Bennett to be the top contender in the heavyweight division.”

Bennett had recently set his wrestling on the back burner in favour of striking throughout his 2010 M-1 Selection Americas tournament run, displaying a wide array of talents. Opening up the brackets against Nick Smiley, the mild-mannered monster needed a total of 37 seconds to destroy Smiley by TKO and leave him in the ring busted and bloodied. His semi-final bout was a marathon war with Mehdi Hassan where he earned a unanimous decision victory. The run was halted in the finals however as Bennett fell victim to Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner’s lead left hook; unable to answer Garner’s striking, Bennett notched the second loss of his career via TKO at the midway point of the opening frame.

Bennett’s first trip to M-1’s larger, international stage was in December at M-1 Challenge XXII where he faced Alexander Volkov; the staunch American went back to his decorated base with a game plan to exploit the stylistic mismatch; defend the striking, set-up takedowns and demolish Volkov on the ground. Bennett did exactly this for four full rounds with precision execution. Although the initial decision was shrouded in controversy, an independent panel of judges rightfully scored the bout in Bennett’s favour.

The heavyweight title fight against Guram will likely send Bennett back to his fundamental and highly decorated base. “I’m a dominant wrestler and seemed to have gotten away from what I do best,” says Bennett. “I’ve watched Guram’s videos. I know a lot about him and his weaknesses. Stylistically this is a great match-up and I know what I have to do to be successful.”

At 6’ 3”, 240 pounds, Bennett has heavy hands that deliver unforgiving power; if he connects with his overhand right, there is a real possibility to see Guram fall. But Bennett will have to successfully defend takedown attempts and push the pace as he sees fit while being cautiously aware of Guram’s strength. These monsters matchup extremely well: both possesses strong wrestling bases, are incredibly strong and are mirror images physically, the only difference in their builds is a two-inch height advantage and 10 pounds in favour of the champ.

With the American crowd in his corner on July 8th, Bennett controls his own destiny as the underdog in the biggest fight of his career, intent to dethrone the world’s #1 ranked heavyweight prospect and build some much deserved clout of his own. “First and foremost it is always a pleasure to fight under the M-1 banner and I can’t wait for this fight. This opportunity means the world to me and my family on so many levels and I take my career very seriously.”

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

Top-ranked prospect, Guram Gugenishvili has been putting the competition to sleep faster than a licensed anaesthesiologist since coming on the scene in July of 2009. Sporting a perfect 11-0 record and the M-1 Global heavyweight strap, the Georgian powerhouse is making his debut inside the United States on July 8th at M-1 Challenge XXVI; he’ll face decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett in the card’s headline bout.

Fighting out of Makariv, Kiev Oblast in the Ukraine, Gugenishvili had been the cornerstone of the Makfight team since beginning his professional career; as with all fighters aiming to evolve, Guram made the tough decision to move to the Aris Sport Club earlier this year, where a modern facility is set to provide him the tools to become an even more dominant force. Although in a new team, Guram remains under the instruction of Coach Ioseb Koberidze, who is dedicated to improving his pupil’s striking and jiu Jitsu.

As the winner of the inaugural 2010 M-1 Selection Eastern European tournament and Europe’s leading MMA promotion’s reigning heavyweight champion, what’s most notable about Guram is his agility; at 6’4” and 250lbs, he moves around the ring lightly, maintaining precise ring positioning. He’s methodical, calm and systematic in his movements; in his mind, he’s won the fight before the sound of the bell and the course of action within the ropes is only a formality.

No one has been able to expose holes in his abilities to date. All but two of his victories have ended early in the first round and seven of these come by way of suffocating, anaconda-like rear naked chokes. Aspiring fighters often rely on one or two bases early in their career and Guram is no different; he has a sound freestyle wrestling base that he leverages to set up submissions but there is room to improve. Guram and his coach are actively improving his sambo and striking techniques while also working in boxing and Muay Thai sessions.

He has the confidence, work ethic and determination to elevate his proficiency in all fighting styles and evolve into an even more fearsome, versatile fighter. Simply put: Gugenishvili is proving himself as the top-ranked heavyweight prospect in MMA and the global fan base has no choice other than to take notice.

Guram captured the inaugural M-1 Global heavyweight belt at M-1 Challenge XXI where he fought American Top Team’s Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner. After some momentary trouble handling Garner’s submission game, the Georgian powerhouse disposed on his foe early in the second round, capturing the card’s Submission of the Night honour thanks to a standing guillotine choke that put Garner on the mat, out unconscious.

His first title defense was M-1 Challenge XXIII this past March where he collided with Red Devil prospect, Maxim Grishin, who nearly shocked the world in the early seconds of the battle when he floored the champ with a left hook. With the dangerous situation short-lived, Guram got back to his feet and engaged Grishin quickly; after a brief exchange, the pair hit the mat with Guram working from his foe’s guard, firing effective blows through Grishin’s defence. As Guram postured up and stepped over into full mount, Grishin made the fatal mistake of rolling over in an attempt to escape, giving up his back and exposing his neck; it took Guram a split second to recognize the position and quickly wrenched in his patented, text-book RNC, forcing the tap at 3:38 of the opening round.

As the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Guram is now climbing the next steps of his professional career where the level and calibre of competition gets tougher.

Although extremely successful to date and able to manhandle his opponents at will, it’s inevitable to envision the type of fighter that Guram will evolve into with exposure to elite-level coaching and training in striking and jiu jitsu; incorporating these elements into his already powerful arsenal will make Guram a force to be reckoned with anywhere on the planet; his first foray outside of Europe lands him in the United States on July 8th when Pat Bennett will aim to stop the Guram hype-train short of stardom.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

With the first round of the Asian Selection Tournament starting up today we at MNL are excited to bring you the very finest in M-1 ring girls…. ENJOY!

Continuing to build momentum off a breakthrough 2010, Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, M-1 Global is scouring the continents for top talent. The 2011 Asian M-1 Selection tournament kicked off Saturday April 30th with the region’s Opening Round taking place at Event Hall 135-713 in the Fashion Center Building in Seoul, South Korea.

“M-1 Global continues to provide the proving ground for young fighters around the globe to seize their opportunity and become stars on the world stage,” says Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations of Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, M-1Global. “The 2010 Selection tournaments have showcased the caliber of competition worldwide and laid a successful foundation to build on throughout 2011; we’re focused on scouring the globe for the best up-and-coming fighters.”

The Opening round bouts featured aspiring Japanese and Korean fighters taking their first steps at the Asian tournament championships.

2011 Asian M-1 Selection Under Card Matchups:

Lightweight Bout: Kim Jin Hyoung (Korea) def. Kim Jun Woo (Korea) via submission (RNC) 2:21 of Round 1

Lightweight Bout: Kim Dae Myeong (Korea) def. Gwon Il Jin (Korea) via unanimous decision

Welterweight Bout: Son Se Joong (Korea) def. Jang Ji Hoon (Korea) via TKO 2:10 of Round 2

2011 Asian M-1 Selection Opening Round Results:

Lightweight Bout: Hwang Gyo Pyung (Korea) def. Hamamatsu Yamato (Japan) via KO :10 of Round 1

Welterweight Bout: Lee Dong Young (Korea) def. Mano Kiriro (Japan) via submission (RNC) 1:18 of Round 1

Middleweight Bout: Kim Hee Seung (Korea) def. Yasuoka Kazuyuki (Japan) via TKO 2:00 of Round 1

Light Heavyweight Bout: Kuwabara Kiyoshi (Japan) def. Han Hae Yong (Korea) via TKO 1:28 of Round 1

Lightweight Bout: Kwak Myung Sik (Korea) def. Yuichiro Ohno (Japan) via TKO :22 of Round 1

Welterweight Bout: Ahn Seung Ho (Korea) def. Fujita Katsutoshi (Japan) via submission (Armbar) 2:56 of Round 2

Middleweight Bout: Moon Jun Hee (Korea) def. Kuroki Yoshihito (Japan) via submission (Triangle) 2:40 of Round 1

Light Heavyweight Bout: Kim Doo Hwan (Korea) def. Niyama Makoto (Japan) via submission (RNC) Round 1

Heavyweight Bout: Yu Young Woo (Korea) def. Masanori Iwamoto (Japan) via TKO 2:28 of Round 1

The “M-1 Selection” is the world’s premiere MMA competition where the next generation of superstars are given the opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage with fighters being eliminated after only one loss; victory will advance the winning fighters throughout the tournament and earn them a trip to the championship event where they will compete for the coveted “M-1 Selection” title.

The “M-1 Selection” tournament is broken down into global regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Americas with consisting of three rounds and a final of the “M-1 Selection” tournament. The winning fighter in each weight class will gain the opportunity to fight on the larger international stage.

M-1 Global makes its return to US soil on Friday, July 8th for M-1 Challenge XXVI: Guram vs. Bennett. Current #1-ranked heavyweight prospect and reigning champion Guram Gugenishvili takes on decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett and newly crowned lightweight champ, Jose ‘The People’s Champ’ Figueroa takes on German submission specialist, Daniel Weichel.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments held throughout Europe and North America in 2011.

Heavyweight and Lightweight Title Fights Headline a Knockout Card Featuring Top European Talent

Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, M-1 Global, returns stateside Friday July 8th for its second U.S. based event in 2011. Headlining the evening’s bout sheet, undefeated, Georgian powerhouse, Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) puts his heavyweight (205+ Lbs) belt on the line against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2) while newly crowned Lightweight Champion (155 Lbs), Jose ‘The People’s Champ’ Figueroa (10-4) makes his first title defense against the versatile German fighter, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

“M-1 Global is fully engaged in preparations for this year’s second US-based Challenge event,” said M-1 Global Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “The European fighters who participated in the March card enjoyed great success in their North American debuts, setting the bar extremely high for those who coming from overseas in July. This group of fighters are eager to put on exciting performances for the fans.”

The heavyweight title clash sets the stage for a battle between a pair of Goliath’s intent to impose their will. MMA site Bloody Elbow recently ranked Guram Gugenishvili as the #1heavyweight prospect in the world and the giant has been putting his opponents to sleep faster than a licensed anaesthesiologist. With 10 impressive submission victories to his name, Guram has the size, strength and power to evolve into one of the most dominant heavyweight fighters in the sport.

Known for his wrestling skills, Bennett has proven to be a multidimensional mixed martial artist able to transition into a touted striker at will; doubters are quickly silenced by his combined amateur and professional record which is heavily weighted in the ‘win’ column with five first-round TKO’s. Capable of managing larger opponents thanks to his versatile background and heavy-handed striking, this New Jersey native is primed to bring a tough fight to the current heavyweight champ.

In the lightweight championship showdown, monstrous 155-pound Champion, Jose Figueroa seized his opportunity headlining M-1 Global’s debut event on SHOWTIME against Artiom Damkovsky and came away with a statement-making victory that captured the card’s Fight of the Night top honour. Effective in leveraging his reach advantage in all facets of the game, Figueroa shows overwhelming control on the ground; fighting from guard, this imposing fighter is capable of posting up and dropping down heavy strikes at will and has conditioning that can go the distance should the judges need to decide the outcome.

Feared submission specialist, Daniel Weichel will stand in the opposing corner eager to make the Champ’s reign short lived. Successful in eight of his last nine trips to the canvass, Weichel’s vault of experience has been hard-fought and earned through international passage with organizations including Shooto, King of the Cage, Cage Warriors and the UFC; he possesses incredible athleticism and dexterity with the ability to scoop the single or double leg takedown effortlessly as a precursor to a submission or a devastating ground-and-pound.

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments held throughout Europe and North America in 2011.

Taking a championship bout on short notice, Yasubey Enomoto (6-3), one of the most technically sound welterweight prospects in the world today, brought an incredible fight to Shamil Zavurov (20-1) at M-1 Challenge XXV this past Thursday night. The Swiss phenom added a completely different element of action to the title tilt thanks to textbook Muay Thai and sharp, laser-guided striking but it was his slick and fluid BJJ that put the champ in dangerous situations throughout the bout. Going the full 25 minutes, both fighters earned hard-fought Fight of the Night awards with Zavurov successfully defending his belt with a unanimous decision victory.

With the crowd cheering as both men stood center-ring listening to the referee’s final instructions, Enomoto’s height and reach advantage over Zavurov was clearly evident; with the pair coming out at the bell, the difference was amplified as the champ took to his wide Sambo base and Enomoto stalked in a textbook Thai stance. From the get go, it was Zavurov’s intent to avoid keeping this fight on the feet in favour of working an offensive from the canvass but Enomoto’s use of Eddie Bravo’s mission-control rubber-guard presented new challenges. In top position where Zavurov is known for launching an effective, dominating ground and pound, the champ was confined to working just to simply pass Enomoto’s guard while constantly having to defend smooth and confident submission attempts. Closing out the first, Zavurov knew he was in for a fight.

Zavurov opened the second round finding some holes in Enomoto’s defense, landing a quick combination ending with a solid right hook that had the Swiss fighter smiling after being tagged. However the pair went quickly down to the canvas with Enomoto twisting on a wrenching kimura that had Zavurov on the brink of tapping just past the one minute mark but the champ defended the bout’s most dangerous submission attempt and continued working from his foe’s guard.

The first three rounds were a phenomenal display of strategic offensives with both fighters looking to capitalize on even the slightest of errors; from momentary breakdowns in defense to attacking after a mistimed step, both fighters were poised and effective in their offensive arsenals standing up or on the mat. Entering into the championships rounds, Zavurov held the judges card by one round.

The warriors elected to start the fourth round standing up and very quickly Enomoto proved to be the better tactical striker, landing a front-kick and relentless combinations that had Zavurov hanging on, exhausted and unable to answer for over a minute; scoring a takedown, Zavurov once again went to work from Enomoto’s perfected rubber guard until the Swiss prospect popped back up to his feet, nearly getting hit square on by a left hook that missed by a half inch. Once up, Enomoto fired off a front-kick, left hook combination that Zavurov countered with a looping overhand right and straight left before scoring another takedown. Enomoto once again controlled the action from his back, leaving Zavurov unable to mount his punishing ground and pound assault but winning the round thanks to the takedowns.

Knowing the judges had him down on the scorecards, Enomoto went out guns blazing to submit the champ or knock him out to in the fifth as both men kicked off the deciding round aggressively; Zavurov countered shots with back to back right hooks of his own before nailing another takedown, where he worked from guard until being stood up by the ref with one minute to go. Planting another takedown on Enomoto, both fighters landed relentless shots to the body and head to close out a momentous championship battle.

In a great showing at his M-1 debut, Enomoto gave it is all in a bout which ended with the three wise men sitting ringside giving the unanimous decision to the reining Welterweight Champion, Shamil Zavurov.

Zavurov captured the belt with a systematic demolition of Spanish Catalan Abner Lloveras in December of last year and followed this up with a complete domination of American scrapper, Tom Gallicchio in March; a performance that also earned him the evening’s Knock Out of the Night award and confirmed why the Dagestan native is the gatekeeper in M-1’s talent-rich pool of welterweight fighters.

Although critics had Enomoto pegged as a 3:1 underdog in his bout against Zavurov, their stylistic differences and similarities made this an explosive, entertaining title fight that delivered on its Fight of the Night predictions; both fighters weren’t afraid to throw-down and the submission attempts had fans gasping.

Now a topic in North American forums, Zavurov’s only defeat came over a year ago via razor-thin split-decision to Rashid Magomedov at the 2009 M-1 Challenge; Zavurov vs. Magomedov 2 is certainly on the horizon but don’t be surprised if Enomoto gets an immediate rematch with ample preparation time.