Posts Tagged ‘M-1 Challenge’

Eddie Arizmedi set to face Arthur Guseinov at M-1 Challenge

ARTHUR GUSEINOV VS. EDDIE ARIZMENDI OFFICIAL FOR
M-1 CHALLENGE: GURAM VS GARNER 2
LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

Friday, October 14, 2011
From The Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona

NEW YORK (September 23, 2011) – M-1 GLOBAL announces the addition of feared Russian striker Arthur Guseinov (7-2) versus Eddie ‘Crazy Face’ Arizmendi (15-4) at the mixed martial arts (MMA) event titled M-1 Challenge: Guram vs. Garner 2. The bouts from the new 5,500 seat Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona will air LIVE on SHOWTIME on Friday, October 14 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast).

The October 14th event is headlined with the five-round, heavyweight (265 Lbs.) championship bout between undefeated and reigning M-1 Global champion Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) and the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Tournament heavyweight winner Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (7-3).
Read the rest of this entry »

Guram vs. Garner II

M-1 GLOBAL ANNOUNCES M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT

TO AIR LIVE ON SHOWTIME^®

Friday, October 14, 2011

From The Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona

NEW YORK (September 15, 2011) – M-1 GLOBAL announced today an upcoming mixed martial arts (MMA) event titled M-1 Challenge: Guram vs. Garner II featuring the rematch between current M-1 Global Heavyweight (265 Lbs.) Champion Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) and 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Tournament heavyweight winner Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (7-3). The bouts from the new 5,550 seat Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona will air LIVE on SHOWTIME on Friday, October 14 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast).

In co-main event action, Light Heavyweight (205 Lbs.) Champion and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu specialist Vinny Magalhaes (8-5) will make his first title defense against versatile Russian fighter Mikhail Zayats (14-5).

Tickets are priced at $35, $45, $75 and $100 and can be purchased at www.GCUArena.com, charge by phone at 602-639-8999 or visit the GCU Arena Box Office located at 3300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85017

“Our Champions are hungry to defend their titles and this is shaping up to be our strongest, most exciting card of the year.” said Vadim Finkelschtein, co-founder of M-1 GLOBAL. “This marks our third event with SHOWTIME; there’s no better TV network for M-1 than SHOWTIME and no better market to seriously compete in than the U.S.”

“Garner has been extremely vocal about wanting a rematch with Guram and he’s put the work in to get this opportunity,” said Evgeni Kogan, M-1 Global’s Director of operations. “This is a great title fight between two fierce opponents.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The Stepping Stone Ready to Become a Stumbling Block
© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com
Special thanks to Eric Nicholl

M-1 Global's Beau Baker at M-1 Challenge XXVI weigh-ins

On July 8, M-1 Challenge XXVI: Bennett vs. Garner will be coming LIVE on Showtime from The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California.  Germany’s lightweight sensation, Daniel Weichel, was originally slotted to face M-1 Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa, but an injury during training forced the champ out of the title match.

Stepping up to the plate to lock horns with Daniel Weichel (26-7) is former NCAA Division 1 collegiate wrestler, Beau Baker (8-4), who possesses a huge heart and a titanium jaw.  Beau commenced wrestling at age 10, and was a two-time State High School Champion in the Volunteer State of Tennessee.  Baker was keen to volunteer for this war with Weichel.

Possessing exceptional positioning and scrambling skills, Beau has been focusing on his BJJ abilities and intends upsetting the applecart on July 8.  He gained a wealth of experience from his recent bout with Alexander Sarnavskiy, dusted himself off, and says he’s on the boil for a showdown with Daniel Weichel.

Knucklepit caught up with Beau a week prior to this highly anticipated battle.

Daniel, how did you earn the nickname ‘Blackjack’?

Read the rest of this entry »

“I’mma Gonna Beat Pat’s Brains Out Once Again!”
© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com
Special thanks to Eric Nicholl

M-1 Global's Kenny Garner

On July 8, M-1 Challenge XXVI: Bennett vs Garner will be shown Live from the Hangar in Costa Mesa, California.

Originally billed as Guram vs. Bennett, Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner stepped in to replace the injured Guram Gugenishvili for the main event.  It was actually Pat Bennett who requested Kenny Garner be his opponent, hoping to revenge his loss to Deuce at the M-1 Selection Americas tournament finals on September 18 last year.

Kenny Garner is one of the most colourful characters in MMA today and says he was glad to accept the invitation, again, after beating Pat Bennett by TKO at 2.31 into the first round of their last meeting.  In an exchange of quotable quotes, Pat Bennett declared, “I’m still training as if this were a five round fight.”  Kenny Garner replied, “I will end this fight faster than the last time I beat him, trust me.”

Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner kindly took time between workouts at American Top Team in Port St. Lucie (ATTPSL) to chat with Knucklepit about his upcoming showdown at M-1 Challenge XXVI.

Kenny, what were your initial thoughts when you got the call for this rematch with Pat Bennett?

I couldn’t be happier about fighting for M-1 Global and I’mma gonna beat Pat’s brains out once again.

Read the rest of this entry »

Now This Is What Combat Sambo Is All About
© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com
Special thanks to Eric Nicholl

M-1 Global's Yuri Ivlev

On April 3, 2008, in his M-1 Challenge debut Yuri Ivlev lost his bout to Japan’s Daisuke Nakamura by very close decision. 

Then on June 27 of that year, Yuri ‘Cable Guy’ Ivlev came out like a reinvented thrashing machine whilst always on the attack against Carlos Valeri at M-1 Challenge IV, and started the match with a spinning high-kick.  Yuri continued his aggressive strategy, unloading a mixed bag of looping fists, high kicks, low kicks and knees to the body.  Ivlev’s southpaw stance and unrelenting firepower unsettled the Spaniard and sent his game plan out the ring and into the Neva River.  When the conflict moved to close quarters, Yuri effortlessly flung Carlos to the ground with a sambo throw.

The ref stood Valeri up and Ivlev closed the gap, forcing Valeri into the ropes with powerful blows.  Carlos attempted a Thai clinch; however Yuri instantly slipped his right arm under his opponent’s left arm and hip-threw him to the canvas before slapping on an arm bar, causing Carlos to tap.

This was classic Combat Sambo, with Yuri transitioning from striking to takedown to submission in one fluid movement. See video of this fight.

Yuri Ivlev has since continued to grow rapidly as a well-rounded MMA competitor, chalking up an impressive 17-7 record and becoming one of M-1 Global’s most popular combatants.

Ivlev graciously chatted with Knucklepit after his impressive victory over Artiom Damkovsky at the M-1 Ukraine European Battle on June 4.

Yuri, was Rostov-on-don your birthplace?

No, I was born and I still live in Taganrog.

What was the first fighting art you took up and how old were you at the time?

The two first fighting arts I took were judo and Sambo; I was 8 years old back then. 

Read the rest of this entry »

“I Will Head to the USA to Win the Title!”
© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com
Special thanks to Eric Nicholl

M-1 Stars Daniel Weichel vs. Yuri Ivlev

M-1 Global has a reputation for presenting epic showdowns in the MMA arena, and Daniel Weichel vs. Jose Figueroa on July 8 is expected to be another classic battle.

Daniel is an explosive fighter, both in the stand-up and on the ground.  Against southpaw Yuri Ivlev at M-1 Challenge XXI, Daniel unleashed flying knees and Thai-clinch knees, smashing Yuri’s nose and cutting deeply into his forehead before winning by TKO. 

Weichel has knockout power in both fists and seems to effortlessly crash-tackle his opponents with either single-or double-leg takedowns, before unleashing savage g’n’p.  He is also very capable working from his back, as displayed in his match against Magomedrasul Khasbulaev at M-1 Challenge XXIII. 

Knucklepit had the pleasure of chatting with Daniel Weichel about his upcoming title challenge against Jose Figueroa.

Daniel, were you born in Michelstadt, Hessen, Germany?

Yes, I was born in Michelstadt on the 22^nd of November in 1984.

Read the rest of this entry »

M-1Global’s Heavyweight Champion
© Marc Wickert www.knucklepit.com
Special thanks to Eric Nicholl

Guram Gugenishvili, M-1's Heavyweight Champion

On July 8, 2011, M-1 Global’s reigning heavyweight champion, Guram Gugenishvili (11-0), will be defending his title for the second time.  Guram’s opponent for the main event at M-1 Challenge XXVI will be three time All-American wrestler Pat Bennett (4-2), a native of Marcellus, N.Y. who is looking forward to throwing down for the belt in front of his home crowd.

M-1 Global is already Europe’s leading MMA promotion and now the M-1 Challenge events are spreading like wildfire across the planet.  And M-1 is making sure the planet knows about Guram Gugenishvili, as revealed on their official site www.m-1global.com, where a “Who Is Guram” viral contest has been launched.

Knucklepit was fortunate to catch up with Guram Gugenishvili, who is helping to spread the buzz about M-1 Challenge through his barnstorming style of fighting and his jovial personality.

Hello Guram. Thank you for taking the time for this interview.

Thank you for the interest in me.

Where in Georgia were you born? 

I was born in Tbilisi.

 Do you consider yourself to be Georgian or Ukrainian?

(Laughs)  That sounds like a joke to me!  I am a 100 % Georgian; I have no Ukrainian blood.  I’m just training in Ukraine now.

Read the rest of this entry »