2009 M-1 CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP‏ *Results*

[NWOWolfpack]

M1 Challenge St.Petersburg Russia- Press conference

Published Wednesday, December 2, 2009 7:00 am

Team weigh ins with FEDOR and White Chocolate's Reed Wallace

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M-1 CHALLENGE SET FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 3 IN SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

After traveling to over 7 countries on 4 continents, holding 130 fights featuring over 150 fighters, the 2009 season of the "M-1 CHALLENGE" (http://www.M-1Global.com) comes to conclusion Thursday December 3, 2009 at “The Ice Palace” in Saint Petersburg Russia as Team USA EAST will face off with Team Russia Legion.

Both teams head to the finals following dominating performances in their semi-final match ups and have set the stage for a renewal of a classic sports rivalry that holds the M-1 Challenge Championship Cup in the balance.

When Russia Legion faces USA East, it will look to keep the M-1 Challenge Championship Cup in Russia. Known as Russia Red Devil at the time and now known as Russia Imperial, Fedor Emelianenko's team of talented proteges won the first-ever M-1 Challenge last January in Amsterdam when it defeated Holland (now known as Team Benelux) by a 4-1 score.

In addition to the M-1 Challenge Championship Finals, the finals for the M-1 Selection will also be held as well. The M-1 Selection is a secondary fight series designed to determine qualifying teams in respective countries for the 2010 M-1 Challenge. The first-ever M-1 Selection finals on Dec. 3 will help determine which team from Russia will represent its home country next year. The M-1 Selection finals will be streamed live on http://www.sherdog.com.

M-1Global.com and Mixfight.ru will be providing live streaming coverage of the M-1 Challenge finals as it takes place for qualifying countries who are not subject to blackout. Fight footage of the M-1 Challenge finals will be made available in the United States in coming weeks on HDNet. Be sure to check M-1Global.com and HDNetFights.com for an exact air date.


Official lineups are available below:

USA EAST VS. RUSSIA LEGION -

2. Lightweight (154 lbs./-70 kg): Ivan Jorge vs. Yura Ivlev
3. Welterweight (167.2 lbs./-76 kg): Gerson Dos Santos vs. Magomed Shikshabekov
4. Middleweight (184.8 lbs./-84 kg): Danilo Pereira vs. Ansar Chalangov
5. Light Heavyweight (204.8 lbs./-93 kg): Chuck Grigsby vs. Besiki Gerenava
6. Heavyweight (+204.8 lbs./+93 kg): Lloyd “Kadillac” Marshbanks vs. Akhmed Sultanov

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CLEAN SWEEP BY RUSSIA LEGION TO CAPTURE THE 2009 M-1 CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP


Saint Petersburg, Russia -- A field of sixteen teams began the season in the 2009 "M-1 CHALLENGE " (http://www.M-1Global.com) earlier this year. With two teams remaining it was time to crown a champion, on December 3, 2009 at the Ice Palace, Team Russia Legion defeated Team USA East in dominating fashion to capture the 2009 M-1 Challenge Championship Cup.

Both teams entered the finals on the heels of impressive semi-final performances, but it was Russia Legion, who managed to score a perfect evening in their team match up defeating USA East 5-0.

Yuri Ivlev set the tone for the evening getting off to a very quick start against Ivan Jorge. Ivlev showed impressive striking as he battered a very game Jorge for the majority of round 1. Ivan Jorge mounted an impressive comeback for the first half of round 2 trapping Ivlev in a body triangle in an attempt to secure a rear naked choke and the victory. But it was Ivlev who would show incredible submission defense and eventually mounted his escape. Ivlev proceeded to punish his opponent until the stoppage at 4:11 of round number 2.

The second fight between Legion and USA East ended even more impressively as Magomed Shikshabekov -- voted the eighth best European MMA prospect by Sherdog.com -- submitted brazillian jiu jitsu black belt Gerson Dos Santos with a triangle choke. The win moves, Shikshabekov's professional record to 11-0 and placed Russia Legion in the driver’s seat.

Up 2-0, Legion clinched the championship when veteran Ansar Chalangov out grappled brazilan jiu jitsu black belt Danilo Pereira recording a stunning submission via heel hook at 4:17 of the opening frame.

As light heavyweights Chuck Grigsby and Besiki Gerenava battled for 15 minutes, it appeared as if the American’s would secure their first victory of the night. But the judges score cards would tell a different story as Gerenava would be awarded a split decision victory. The win set the stage for a perfect night for the Legion fighters.

The final challenge match of the evening proved to be a one sided beat down as Legion heavyweight Gadsimurad Omarov dominated the popular Lloyd “Kadillac” Marshbanks of Team USA East. What can only be described 14:07 of offense for Omarov came to merciful conclusion as Marshbank’s corner threw in the towel ending the bout at 4:07 of the third round completing the sweep for team Russia Legion.


Official results are available below:

USA EAST VS. RUSSIA LEGION -

1. Yuri Ivlev (Russia Legion/10-3) def Ivan Jorge (USA East/10-1) via TKO 4:11 of Round 2

2.Magomed Shikshabekov (Russia Legion/11-0) def. Dos Santos (USA East/19-4) via submission (triangle) 2:06 of Round 1.

3. Ansar Chalangov (Russia Legion/14-4) def. Danilo Pereira (USA East/) via submission ( heel hook) 4:17 Round 1.

4. Besiki Gerenava (10-1-1) def. Chuck Grigsby (USA East/19-6) via split decision

5. Gadsimurad Omarov (Russia Leagion) def. Lloyd "Kadillac" Marshbanks (USA East/52-11) via corner stoppage 4:07 of Round 3.

Russia Legion def. USA East 5-0