WAMMA champions Fedor Emelianenko and Shinya Aoki to “spar” at M-1 Challenge Japan

Rumors have circulated for the past 36 hours that WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and WAMMA lightweight champion Shinya Aoki would be involved in a grappling exhibition match to take place this Wednesday at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo, Japan during the third leg of the 2009 M-1 Challenge fight series. FiveOuncesOfPain.com has confirmed with M-1 Global officials that Fedor and Aoki will indeed... [Read More...]

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Finland, South Korea, and USA West ignite M-1’s 2009 Challenge

Tacoma, Washington — After debuting their team-based round robin tournament last year, M-1 Global held the first round of the 2009 M-1 Challenge this weekend at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA. The event pitted six teams in best-of-five “dual meet” action, ending with redeeming wins for Team South Korea, Team USA West, and Team Finland. Marketed as the “World Cup of MMA,” the M-1... [Read More...]

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Dave Jansen to replace Brian Cobb this Saturday at M-1 Challenge Opener

M-1 Global officials have announced that undefeated Team Quest product Dave Jansen has been signed to Team USA West for this Saturday’s M-1 Challenge opener at the Emerald Queen Casino near Tacoma, Washington. Jansen replaces Brian Cobb, who had been slated to represent Team USA West in its best-of-five series against Team Brazil Naja. The move to sign Jansen was necessitated after Cobb signed... [Read More...]

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Fedor Emelianenko responds to Andrei Arlovski, Freddie Roach, and Dana White in exclusive interview with 5 Oz. of Pain

There are just 17 days until Fedor Emelianenko defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski during Affliction and M-1’s “Day of Reckoning” on January 24 in Anaheim, California. Despite having recorded victories in the past over the likes for former PRIDE and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, former UFC heavyweight champion... [Read More...]

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Vadim Finkelchtein Interview Part II: “We’ve always wanted to collaborate with good partners, the problem is that Dana White is not letting that happen.”

In Part I of FiveOuncesOfPain.com’s exclusive interview with M-1 Global President and manager for Fedor Emelianenko, Vadim Finkelchtein, discussed in detail some of the specific negotiation points that came up during contract negotiations between the UFC and Fedor. In Part II, Finkelchtein addresses questions about whether Fedor’s current contract with Affliction and M-1 would prevent him... [Read More...]

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Inclement weather causes cancellation of the M-1 Challenge finals

M-1 Global officials announced Thursday that the finals for its inaugural season of the M-1 Challenge, which had been scheduled to take place at the Emerald Queen Casino in Seattle, Washington, has been canceled. In a press release received by FiveOuncesOfPain.com, M-1 officials claimed that the reason for the cancellation was due to inclement weather conditions in the Seattle area that prevented its... [Read More...]

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Lineups announced for M-1 Challenge final on Dec. 26

M-1 Global officially announced the matchups for the final of its M-1 Challenge series, which is scheduled for Dec. 26 in Seattle, Wash. at the Emerald Queen Hotel and Casino. Squaring off in the first-ever M-1 championship will be the Russian Red Devil Team against Team Holland. Fighters representing the teams in five separate weight classes will go head-to-head with the first team to win three fights... [Read More...]

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M-1 announces February event at the Playboy Mansion

M-1 Global will become the second-ever mixed martial arts promotion to host an event from the famed Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California on February 21, 2009. The announcement was made official late this week on the promotion’s English-language website. Strikeforce became the first promotion ever to host a show at the Mansion on Sept. 29, 2007. The promotion then returned to host a second... [Read More...]

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Josh Barnett to face Gilbert Yvel at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning”

M-1 Global heavyweight and former PRIDE star Gilbert Yvel has signed a three fight contract with Affliction Entertainment and will be making his debut against Josh Barnett during the promotion’s “Day of Reckoning” event on January 24 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Officials with M-1 made the official announcement in a press release that was sent out Tuesday morning. Yvel,... [Read More...]

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Goran Reljic vs. Wilson Gouveia at UFC 84

MMAjunkie.com is reporting that Croatian light-heavyweight, Goran Reljic is set to make his UFC debut against Wilson Gouveia at UFC 84. Reljic recently signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC and is undefeated after seven professional bouts. Gouveia is coming off a come-from-behind victory over Jason Lambert at UFC 80 and is currently 10-4 in his career and 4-1 in his UFC career. UFC 84 is expected... [Read More...]

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