M-1 Challenge XXII Middleweight Championship Showdown
Dec 9, 2010
(PRESS RELEASE) -- In an evening which includes a trilogy of title
fights, M-1 Challenge XXII is garnering worldwide attention from
fans and media alike. Facing off to determine the M-1 Challenge
middleweight champion is Rafal ‘Kulturysta’ Moks (5-2) and Magomed
‘The White Wolf’ Sultanakhmedov (28-4) and the action from Moscow,
Russia begins at 12:00pm EST / 9:00am PST on Friday December 10th;
catch all the action LIVE for free at www.M-1Global.com.
Rafal Moks has earned his 2010 M-1 Selections Western Europe championship title with relentless pursuit of a quest which started back in February of this year. With impressive performances throughout, the Berserkers team member needed just 4:19 to secure a fight-ending rear-naked choke over Serghei Popa in the quarter-finals and 4:56 to dispose of Danijel Dzebic thanks to a suffocating guillotine choke; both fights showcasing his ever improving ground game.
With the back-to-back wins, Moks secured himself a spot in the
Finals against Ahmed Bayrak in a highly anticipated middleweight
clash as part of a mega-card that featured 10 championship bouts.
With high expectations, the bout delivered a back and forth,
see-saw battle that proved to critics that Moks has a chin that can
withstand power punches and that his thick, 5’8” frame is
comfortable and confident fighting off his back. With the bout
culminating with three full frames, cardio was never in question
and the judges awarded Moks the unanimous decision.
With the victory, Moks improved to 5-2 and returned home to Szczecin, Poland to begin preparing for the biggest fight of his life against Magomed Sultanakhmedov, who will undoubtedly keep the talented Polish fighter’s hands full.
Since making his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2003, Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov has quietly amassed an impressive 28-4 record battling in the European circuit. Hailing from Tula, Russia, this 26 year old middleweight’s vault of experience and refined technique made him the primary favourite to win his weight class in the M-1 Selections 2010 Eastern Europe tournament.
Sultanakhmedov delivered on these expectations and won the middleweight division in July with a devastating TKO victory over Alexei Belyaev and marking his current win streak at seven. His run to the finals also included knock-out victories over Dibir Zagirov and Pavel Kusch. Clearly 2010 has been a great year for this tough-as-iron warrior, building off his victory over Dmitry Samoilov at the 2009 M-1 Challenge last December where he lead his team to the Champions of Russia title. A world champion in karate and kick-boxing and veteran tournament participant for M-1, Dream and K-1 Hero’s, many have compared Sultanakhmedov ‘s style to the great Mirko Cro Cop of the past; a great left-handed fighter with a sound defense and able to deliver deadly kicks at will.
Both fighters are now ready for the next step in their careers and head into a co-main event middleweight title fight at M-1 Challenge XXII on Friday, December 10th. With the clash determining if the legitimate striking abilities and experience Sultanakhmedov brings to the ring is enough to thwart off Moks’ power punches, stone chin and relentless vigor, the eventual winner will have to adjust his sights towards his first title-defense in 2011 against Americas Selections champ, Tyson ‘The Anti- Hero’ Jeffries.
Rafal Moks has earned his 2010 M-1 Selections Western Europe championship title with relentless pursuit of a quest which started back in February of this year. With impressive performances throughout, the Berserkers team member needed just 4:19 to secure a fight-ending rear-naked choke over Serghei Popa in the quarter-finals and 4:56 to dispose of Danijel Dzebic thanks to a suffocating guillotine choke; both fights showcasing his ever improving ground game.
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With the victory, Moks improved to 5-2 and returned home to Szczecin, Poland to begin preparing for the biggest fight of his life against Magomed Sultanakhmedov, who will undoubtedly keep the talented Polish fighter’s hands full.
Since making his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2003, Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov has quietly amassed an impressive 28-4 record battling in the European circuit. Hailing from Tula, Russia, this 26 year old middleweight’s vault of experience and refined technique made him the primary favourite to win his weight class in the M-1 Selections 2010 Eastern Europe tournament.
Sultanakhmedov delivered on these expectations and won the middleweight division in July with a devastating TKO victory over Alexei Belyaev and marking his current win streak at seven. His run to the finals also included knock-out victories over Dibir Zagirov and Pavel Kusch. Clearly 2010 has been a great year for this tough-as-iron warrior, building off his victory over Dmitry Samoilov at the 2009 M-1 Challenge last December where he lead his team to the Champions of Russia title. A world champion in karate and kick-boxing and veteran tournament participant for M-1, Dream and K-1 Hero’s, many have compared Sultanakhmedov ‘s style to the great Mirko Cro Cop of the past; a great left-handed fighter with a sound defense and able to deliver deadly kicks at will.
Both fighters are now ready for the next step in their careers and head into a co-main event middleweight title fight at M-1 Challenge XXII on Friday, December 10th. With the clash determining if the legitimate striking abilities and experience Sultanakhmedov brings to the ring is enough to thwart off Moks’ power punches, stone chin and relentless vigor, the eventual winner will have to adjust his sights towards his first title-defense in 2011 against Americas Selections champ, Tyson ‘The Anti- Hero’ Jeffries.
