M-1 Challenge in China deal announced

10-year agreement starting Nov. 11

Star heavyweight Sergei Kharitonev to headline

  

 Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonev will headline M-1 Challenge in China 

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (July 23, 2014) — M-1 Global CEO & FounderVadim Finkelchtein has announced a 10-year agreement to promote M-1 Challenge in China on an annual basis, starting this November 11 at Wukesong Arena in Beijing, in conjunction with the International Economic Forum. Russian heavyweight star Sergei Kharitonov is scheduled to headline against an opponent to be determined.

 

Top fighters from China, Russia and other countries will compete Nov. 11 and distinguished guests from around the world are expected to attend.

 

M-1 Challenge in China will be held in one of the largest arenas in Beijing, Wukesong Arena, which is an Olympicbasketball palace and sports complexbuilt for the 2008 Olympics.It was the site for the preliminary and final competitionsin men and women’s basketball during the2008 Olympic basketball tournament.Construction of the complex was completed in January 2008.The total area is more than 206,000 square feet (63,000 square meters) and the arena can accommodate18,000spectators.

   

It is a big deal for M-1 and MMA to have an event in China,” Finkelchtein said. “We have an exclusive contract for 10 years and that means every year we will promote an event in China. The first on November 11 will take place in Beijing.  

 

“We will do our best to put together a really good fight card. We plan to feature some of our best heavyweight fighters, including one of the best Russian fighters, Sergei Kharitonov. I think he will represent Russia as one of the strongest countries in MMA. He is strong and very experienced. I’m glad we have him headlining M-1 Challenge in China.”

 

The 6′ 4″, 260-pound Kharitonov (21-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 9 SUB) was a star in the United States-based Strikeforce, as well as Japanese MMA organizations Dream and PRIDE Fighting Championships. His victims during his 5 ½ year professional fighting career have included Fabricio WerdumPedro RizzoAndrei Arlovskiand Alistar Overeem, among the more notables.  

 

“This event is very important for me,” Kharitonov said. “I am very pleased that Vadim Finkelchtein thinks I’m an elite athlete. I’m glad I got the invitation to fight and I gladly accepted the offer.

 

“I’m not sure who I will be fighting but I’m know M-1 will select a high-quality opponent for me. I have trained a long time with a variety of fighters who possess different kinds of martial arts. Respectfully, I will prepare very seriously.”

 

Go to www.M-1Global.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244for more information about M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge in China.

 

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 match-ups, 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 fueled 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.

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