Russian Imperial Team Set To Defend Title in M-1

[keithlewis]

While the name of the team may have changed from Russia Red Devil to Russia Imperial Team, the roster from the defending 2008 M-1 Challenge World Champions remain the same.

All five members of last year's five-man championship squad are scheduled for action this Saturday at the Emerald Queen Casino near Tacoma, Washington during the "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" 2009 regular season opener.

The M-1 Challenge is an international team competition that bills itself as the "World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts" with 16 teams scheduled to compete in 2009. The expansion from 10 teams in 2008 to 16 in '09 places an added importance on the regular season. One loss and the Russians will find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to making the post-season and defending its world title.



Finland vs. Benelux (best of five) -



* Lightweight (154 lbs./-70 kg): Juha-Pekka Vainikainen (Finland) vs. Danny van Bergen (Benelux)

* Welterweight (167.2 lbs./-76 kg): Janne Tulrinta (Finland) vs. Tommy Depret (Benelux)

* Middleweight (184.8 lbs./-84 kg): Lucio Linhares (Finland) vs. Kamil Uygun (Benelux)

* Light Heavyweight (204.6 lbs./-93 kg): Marcus Vanttinen (Finland) vs. Jason Jones (Benelux)

* Heavyweight (204.7 lbs.-plus/+93 kg): Toni Valtonen (Finland) vs. Sander Duyvis (Benelux)



South Korea vs. The Imperial Team (best of five) -



* Lightweight (154 lbs./-70 kg): Do Hyung Kim (South Korea) vs. Mikhail Malyutin (Imperial)

* Welterweight (167.2 lbs./-76 kg): Myungho Bae (South Korea) vs. Erik Oganov (Imperial)

* Middleweight (184.8 lbs./-84 kg): Hyungyu Lim (South Korea) vs. Dmirty Somoylov (Imperial)

* Light Heavyweight (204.6 lbs./-93 kg): Jae Young Kim (South Korea) vs. Mikhail Zayats (Imperial)

* Heavyweight (204.7 lbs.-plus/+93 kg): Sang Soo Lee (South Korea) vs. Alexey Oleinik (Imperial)



Team USA West vs. Team Brazil Naja (best of five) -



* Lightweight (154 lbs./-70 kg): Dave Jansen (USA West) vs. Flavio Roberto Alvaro (Brazil)

* Welterweight (167.2 lbs./-76 kg): Dylan Clay (USA West) vs. Eduardo Pamplona (Brazil)

* Middleweight (184.8 lbs./-84 kg): Reggie Orr (USA West) vs. Juliano Cioffi Belgine (Brazil)

* Light Heavyweight (204.6 lbs./-93 kg): Raphael Davis (USA West) vs. Jair Goncalves Junior (Brazil)

* Heavyweight (204.7 lbs.-plus/+93 kg): Carl Seumanutafa (USA West) vs. Jose Edson dos Santos Franca (Brazil)


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