By FCF Staff
M-1 Global continues to round out the card for the promotion’s upcoming, March 5th, M-1 Challenge XXIII event in Moscow, Russia, as a light-heavyweight tilt between Byron Byrd and Alihan Magomedov has been confirmed for the event. The card, which will be hosted by Moscow’s Crocus City Arena, will be streamed live on the official M-1 Global site. (Pictured: Byrd (left) in action)
Byrd (3-0) is coming off a successful rookie campaign, as the American Top Team fighter went 3-0 en route to winning M-1’s Americas Selection light-heavyweight tourney.
“Byrd has been extremely vocal about wanting to get back in the ring as soon as possible,” says M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “Byrd has all the tools to become a great champion and the contest with Magomedov is an excellent opportunity to cement his position as the #1 contender for the light heavyweight belt.”
Magomedov (4-2) is coming off back-to-back losses to Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Vinny Magalhaes.
According to the announcement, the winners of Byrd vs. Magomedov and Shamil Tinagadjiev (7-3) vs. Tomasz Narkun (4-1) will fight later in the year for the vacant M-1 Global light-heavyweight title.
Here is the line-up to date for M-1 Challenge XXIII:
Under Card Bouts:
Byron Byrd (3-0) vs. Alihan Magomedov (8-2) Light Heavyweight
Shamil Tinagadjiev (7-3) vs. Tomasz Narkun (4-1) Light Heavyweight
Goncalo Salgado (7-1) vs. Arsen Abdulkerimov (3-1) Heavyweight
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, M-1 Selection Americas 2010 champion (15-5)
