By FCF Staff, photo courtesy M-1 Global
M-1 Global has announced that the promotion’s heavyweight champion Guram Gugenishvili will look to defend his title March 5th, against 2010 Eastern European tourney winner, Maxim Grishin. The bout will headline the M-1 Challenge XXIII event, which will take place at the Crocus City Arena in Moscow, Russia. (Pictured: Guram celebrating his championship win)
“M-1 Global has crowned their champions and 2011 is the year for these stars to defend what they have rightfully earned,” Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations for M-1 Global said in the official announcement. “Guram knows what he has to do at M-1 Challenge XXIII and every heavyweight here on out is gunning to take the belt away from him. His reign is in his hands and M-1 will provide the stage for the showdown between two highly talented fighters.”
Gugenishvili (10-0) laid claim to the promotion’s heavyweight title in October by submitting Americas tournament winner Kenny Garner, with a second round, guillotine choke. The Ukrainian heavyweight had a successful 2010 campaign, going 5-0.
Grishin (7-2) had been scheduled to face Gugenishvili for the heavyweight belt in October; however, an injury prevented the Russian fighter from competing. Grishin also went undefeated in 2010; most recently in July he submitted Alexander Volkov to finish 3-0 for the year.
The M-1 Challenge XXIII event will be available at a later date for viewing on the official M-1 Global site.
