If you're looking for good MMA this holiday weekend before the explosion next week, M-1 Challenge is putting on a very strong show in Korea.
The matches are Finland vs. Bulgaria, Team USA West vs. Team Russia Imperial, and Team Brazil vs. Team South Korea.
If you're interested in guys who will make the big show, there will be several on this card. Team Brazil and Team USA West both have some rising stars. Team USA West features Givanildo "the arm collector" Santana and undefeated heavyweight Shane del Rosario, both of who have been featured on ShoXC/ShoMMA.
Team Brazil also has some certifiable stars. Many will recognize Daniel Acacio, the journeyman Chute Boxe fighter, but they also have Joaquim Ferreira at heavyweight, the only man to beat Junior Dos Santos, as well as undefeated standout lightweight Hacran Dias and surging welterweight Eduardo Pamplona.
If you haven't watched M1 Challenge lately, you really should as the product continues to get better, and these are some of the best fighters in the promotion.
this is the only show i know of this weekend. i don't know any other shows this weekend. That's crazy. Usually there are a dozen shows each weekend.
UFC 100 kicks off an insane month with UFC 100, UFC 101, WEC 42, Sengoku 9, DREAM 10, a huge Shooto show, and the biggest Strikeforce show yet. But until next Saturday this M1 card is the only major thing.
Finland's team has been on a roll and I hope we continue with the same momentum. Finnish team has strong wrestling and top notch ground game. Bralizian-finnish BJJ black belt Lucio Linhares is off the team, because he's fighting at the Afflication 3. Mikko Suvanto will replace him.
Bulgaria vs. Finland -
1. Lightweight (-70 kg/154 lbs.) - Yanko Yanev (BUL) vs. Niko Puhaka (FIN)
2. Welterweight (-76 kg/167.2 lbs.) - Ivan Ivanov (BUL) vs. Janne Tulirinta (FIN)
3. Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Rosen Dmitirov (BUL) vs. Mikko Suvanto (FIN)
4. Light Heavyweight (-93 kg/204.6 lbs.) - Emil Samoilov (BUL) vs. Marcus Vanttinen (FIN)
5. Heavyweight (+93 kg/+ 204.6 lbs.) - Nikola Dipchkov (BUL) vs. Marcus Valtonen (FIN)
USA West vs. Russia Imperial -
6. Lightweight (-70 kg/154 lbs.) - Dave Jansen (USA) vs. Amirkhan Mazikhov (RUS)
7. Welterweight (-76 kg/167.2 lbs.) - Fabio Nasicmento (USA) vs. Marat Ilaev (RUS)
8. Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Giva Santana (USA) vs. Radmir Gabdulin (RUS)
9. Light Heavyweight (-93 kg/204.6 lbs.) - Tony Lopez (USA) vs. Viktor Nemkov (RUS)
10. Heavyweight (+93 kg/+ 204.6 lbs.) - Shane Del Rosario (USA) vs. Maksim Grishin (RUS)
South Korea vs. Brazil -
11. Lightweight (-70 kg/154 lbs.) - Nam Yui Chul (KOR) vs. Hacran Dias (BRA)
12. Welterweight (-76 kg/167.2 lbs.) - Do Hyung Kim (KOR) vs. Eduardo Pamplona (BRA)
13. Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Jae Young Kim (KOR) vs. Daniel Acacio (BRA)
14. Light Heavyweight (-93 kg/204.6 lbs.) - Dool Hee Lee (KOR) vs. Alexander Machado (BRA)
15. Heavyweight (+93 kg/+ 204.6 lbs.) - Hae Joon Yang (KOR) vs. Joaquim Ferreira (BRA)
SK vs. Brazil will be awesome, this is indeed the strongest card they have put on. Team Brazil is loaded with high level talent
Shane Del Rosario USA next hope for a K-1 Grand Prix
- Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Giva Santana (USA) vs. Radmir Gabdulin (RUS
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is this GIVANALDI "arm collector" Santana from LOTUS ???!!!!
ye yah
supersaiyan - 8. Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Giva Santana (USA) vs. Radmir Gabdulin (RUS
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is this GIVANALDI "arm collector" Santana from LOTUS ???!!!!
yes. He's also rumored for the Affliction card.
u.s. and brazil could both win 5-0. Finland 3-2
I thought it was a typo, but Finland really has a guy named Marcus Valtonen and a guy named Marcus Vanttinen fighting.
Mad Xyientist - I thought it was a typo, but Finland really has a guy named Marcus Valtonen and a guy named Marcus Vanttinen fighting.
No, it's a typo. It's Toni Valtonen and Marcus Vänttinen.
oh, good. Because I saw that on a website as well. Thanks NFH, resident Scandanavian MMA expert.
dbl
Mad Xyientist -supersaiyan - 8. Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Giva Santana (USA) vs. Radmir Gabdulin (RUS
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is this GIVANALDI "arm collector" Santana from LOTUS ???!!!!
yes. He's also rumored for the Affliction card.
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AAAAAAAHAHHHHH FAints
know the guy ...he came to Lotus BJJ a few times and is a Lotus MMA rep/fighter from his home spot in Cali...we are a branch in the East coast ( Lotus BJJ Nyc)
is this event free or PPV and what channel?
Mad Xyientist - I thought it was a typo, but Finland really has a guy named Marcus Valtonen and a guy named Marcus Vanttinen fighting.
saw both guys fight in person a few weeks ago. wasn't really that impressed with either. I don't mean to be a negative prick, i just wasn't impressed with either.
ttt
Thanks to everyone for their support of this Saturday's M-1 Challenge. We're in Seoul right now getting ready for the event and everything is going smoothly. Lots of intriguing matchups, but the one I am really looking forward to is Do Hyung Kim vs. Eduardo Pamplona. If that's not fight of the night, I will be shooked.
Also, it is correct, it should be Toni Valtonen.
You can watch Saturday's fights on Internet PPV (for about $5.00, depending on your country). We have a short-term ordering option set up where you follow instructions listed on a red widget on the right had of the page. You just text a number and you get a password back and the charge goes on your bill. You will get a total of 15 fights.
Check M-1Global.com for previews, interviews, and additional ordering info (such as start time). And if you are in South Korea, come join us as Olympic Hall.
TTT