By FCF Staff, photo courtesy M-1 Global
After weeks of speculation as to whether M-1 Global and Showtime would partner up in 2011, the organizations announced today that several bouts from the March 25th, M-1 Challenge card in Norfolk, Va. will be broadcast live on the television network. The card will feature two title fights, as Artiom Damkovsky will defend his M-1 Challenge lightweight belt against Jose Figueroa, and Tyson Jeffries will battle Magomed Sultanakhmedov for the vacant M-1 Challenge Middleweight Championship. (Pictured: Damkovsky)
Other bouts scheduled for the broadcast include Alexander Sarnavskiy versus lightweight Josh Bacallao, while former UFC light-heavyweight Vinny Magalhaes will fight an opponent to be determined.
"I am extremely happy about the venture between M-1 Global and Showtime. There is no better TV network for M-1 than Showtime. And no better market to seriously compete in than the U.S.,” Vadim Finkelchtein, co-founder of M-1 Global was quoted saying in the official announcement.
“Our ability to televise quality boxing and MMA fights at the highest level has been aided tremendously by our commitment to showcasing prospects and lesser known international stars on our feeder series like ShoBox: The New Generation and Strikeforce Challengers,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports. “M-1 Challenge events fit perfectly into that mold and will enhance our mixed martial arts offerings even further.”
The March 25th "Damkovsky vs. Figueroa" card will be hosted by Norfolk’s Constant Center. The Showtime broadcast will begin at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
