Russian outdoor record set at M-1 Challenge 49 23,255 fans attended MMA event

NGUSHETIA, Russia (June 23, 2014) – A record for highest attendance of any event held above sea level (1500+-meters) in Russian history was established this past June 7 as an astonishing 23,255 fans attended M-1 Challenge 49: Battle in the Mountains in Ingushetia.

Among the record-setting crowd were many well-known athletes, local politicians and other dignitaries. The Tourism Committee of Russia presented M-1 Global CEO and Founder, Vadim Finkelstein, a special certificate (see above picture) for this remarkable achievement.

“It is a very big deal for MMA development in Russia as well as around the world,” Finkelstein said about setting an attendance record. “It shows that this sport is very popular among the fans because so many came to see the M-1 Challenge 49 fights. MMA is a great sport that deserves big attention like this. We are really thankful for everyone who supports us, especially those who come to M-1 Challenge 49. We hope this sport will continue increasing its popularity. We will do our best to promote MMA and show fans of this sport our organization’s best fighters at their greatest level of competition.”

The main event was a heavyweight duel between Russian strongman Shamil Abdurahimov (15-2-0) and American threat Kenny “Deuce” Garner (12-7-0), in which Abdurahimov won a hard fought decision in an exciting match.

Lightweight prospect Islam Makhachev (10-0-0) kept his undefeated record intact by punching fellow Russian Yuri “Cable Guy” Ivlev (20-9-0) in the opening round of the co-feature.

Coming off a failed M-1 Challenge title fight, Lee “American Bulldog” Morrison (13-5-0) lost again, this time by a first-round arm-bar submission to Azerbaijan featherweight Tural Ragimov (9-1-0).

In two other main card fights, Russian featherweight Magomed Idrisov (3-0-0) stopped Brazil’s Yuri “Kong Killa” Maia (12-3) in the first round, while Bashir Gagiev (1-0-0) won his professional debut against fellow Russian, Sergei Andreev (4-3-0), via technical knockout by kicks at 2:36 of the first round.

Preliminary Card Results

HEAVYWEIGHTS:
Murad Izmailov (1-0-0), Russia
WKO/TKO1 (1:44 – punches)
IOSIF MIKHNYUK (1-2-0), Belarus

MIDDLEWEIGHTS:
Gregory “Blade” Babene (16-11-0), France
WSUB1 (3:06 – triangle choke)
Renat “The Genghis Khan” Lyatifov (26-17-0), Ukraine

WELTERWEIGHTS:
Ingiskhan Ozdoev (2-1-0), Ukraine
WSUB1 (1:44)
Rustem Seydaliev (0-1-0), Russia

LIGHTWEIGHTS:
Ali Bagov (1-0-0), Russia
WSUB1 (0:52 – triangle choke)
Ksamzat Dalgiev (0-1-0), Russia

Dzhambulat Kurbanov (3-0-0), Russia
WSUB1 (1:21 – triangle choke)
Dmitry Korobeynikov (4-5-0), Russia

Oleg Khachaturiv (2-1-0), Ukraine
WSUB1 (1:47 – heel hook)
Ali Ganiev (0-1-0), Russia

Fans may watch a replay of M-1 Challenge 49, as well as M-1 Challenge 48: Battle of Nomads, for FREE by visiting www.M-1Global.tv or www.M1Global.TV.

M-1 Global TV video, mma, HD – Promo
M-1 Global TV video, mma, HD – Promo

Up Next: M-1 Challenge 50: Battle of the Neva, August 15 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Gobal and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and matchups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global’s Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global’s greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.