By FCF Staff
M-1 Global’s next U.S. event will feature two of the European based promotion’s champions, as heavyweight champ Guram Gugenishvili (pictured) and lightweight king Jose Figueroa will both defend their titles, July 8th at M-1 Challenge XXVI. No location or venue has yet been confirmed.
“M-1 Global is fully engaged in preparations for this year’s second US-based Challenge event,” said M-1 Global Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “The European fighters who participated in the March card enjoyed great success in their North American debuts, setting the bar extremely high for those who coming from overseas in July. This group of fighters are eager to put on exciting performances for the fans.”
Gugenishvili (11-0) will look to keep his undefeated record against American heavyweight Pat Bennett (4-2). The 24 year-old, Ukrainian heavyweight is coming off a first round, rear-naked-choke submission win over Maxim Grishin in March.
Bennett last competed in December, and scored a unanimous decision win over Alexander Volkov.
Figueroa (10-4) will hope to defend his lightweight title for the first time against German veteran Daniel Weichel (26-7).
Figueroa is coming off an impressive, second round stoppage of former champion Artiom Damkovsky, at M-1 Global’s first Showtime broadcast in March. The American lightweight has won three straight.
Weichel has also won three in a row; at M-1 Challenge XXIII the well travelled vet choked out Magomedrasul Khasbulaev with a first round, triangle-choke.
