By FCF Staff; photo courtesy M-1 Global
M-1 Global continues to fill out the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming Challenge XXIII event, in Moscow, Russia, as a bout between welterweight champ Shamil Zavurov (picutred) and Tom Gallicchio has been added to the card. The March 5th event will be hosted by Moscow’s Crocus City Arena and will be streamed live on the official M-1 Global website.
“Our Challenge XXIII card is getting stronger by the day and the addition of the evening’s second title fight is more proof,” M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan was quoted saying in the official announcement. “The contest between Zavurov and Gallicchio has been anticipated since last year as both men are extremely well matched. Knowing fans are expecting this to be ‘fight of the night’, both fighters have made it clear that they’re preparing to deliver career performances.”
Zavurov (13-1) is coming off an extremely busy and successful 2010, as the Russian fighter went 9-0 in the campaign and took home M-1 Global’s welterweight belt. Zavurov laid claim to the title in December by stopping Abner Lloveras in the fourth round.
Galliccchio (15-5) rebounded from a February loss to Rick Hawn last year to win three straight bouts, a run which included winning M-1’s Americas Tournament. Gallicchio submitted Len Bentley in the first round of the tourney finals, which were held in September.
Here is the line-up to date for the M-1 Challenge XXIII:
Under Card Bouts:
Rashid Magomedov (7-1) vs. Rafal Moks (6-2) Welterweight
Magomed Sultanakhmedov (28-5) vs. Plinio Cruz (5-3) Middleweight
Daniel Weichel (25-7) vs. Magomedrasul Khasbulaev (16-4) Lightweight
Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (5-3) vs. Alexander Volkov (9-2-1) Heavyweight
Additional bouts to be announced
Championship Bouts
Heavyweight Division:
Guram Gugenishvili, M-1 Challenge Champion (10-0) vs.
Maxim Grishin, M-1 Selection Eastern Europe 2010 champion (7-4)
Welterweight Division:
Shamil Zavurov, M-1 Challenge Champion (18-1) vs.
Tom ‘Da Tank’ Gallicchio, 2010 M-1 Selection Americas champion (15-5)
