AL
MATY, Kazakhstan (March 31, 2019) -Kazakh power was on display at last night's
M-1 Challenge 101, which featured a pair of M-1 Challenge title fights, in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Home country fighters won five of five fights, including the main event, in which undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov (11-0) knocked out his Russian opponent, Danila Prikaza (11-3-1).
Rakhmonov thrilled his countrymen in attendance, unleashing a barrage of unanswered punches on Prikaza, until the referee halted the fight midway through the second round (pictured below), capturing the vacant M-1 Challenge welterweight crown.
The 24-year-old Rakhmonov became the first undisputed M-1 Challenge champion from Kazakhstan.
In a battle between undefeated challengers, Russian Khadis Ibragimov (8-0) stopped Rafal "Kijana" Kijanczuk (7-1), of Poland, in the opening round to retain his M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title.
Ibragimov (on top) was too much for Kijanczuk
In a post-fight interview, Ibragimov said that he is now ready to sign with the UFC and start his quest for a new title belt.
Kazakhstan flyweight Arman Ashimov (10-3-1), the former Interim M-1 Challenge flyweight titlist, won a unanimous decision despite a broken hand over previously undefeated Brazilian Kayck "Chuck" Alencar (9-1), the South American Muay Thai champion. Ashimov broke his hand in the same place he did in his fight with current M-1 Challenge flyweight champion Aleksander Doskalchuk in their undisputed title fight last year.
Frenchmen won the opening two fights of the main card. Featherweight Anthony "La Masse" Dizy (12-3) won his M-1 Global debut, taking a split decision from previously undefeated Abubakar Mestoev (7-1), of Russia. Michael "Ragnar" Lebout (19-9-2) submitted Russian Alik Albogachiev (5-2) in the second round, earning him a title shot against M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Roman Bogatov.
On the preliminary card, Brazilian Jean "Panqueka" Petrick (10-3) defeated Russian middleweight Denis Tiuliulin (5-4) by way of split decision, Canadian heavyweight Tanner "Bulldozer" Boser (15-5-1) and Zaur Gadzhibabayev (7-2-1), of Azerbaijan, fought to a three-round draw, and American featherweight "Gorgeous" George Garcia (9-3) turned in an impressive M-1 Global debut, using a rear naked choke to submit Ukrainian Yuri Chobuka (10-2) in the third round. Garcia was losing the fight until the final 30-seconds, in which, he took down Chobuka, tried a few choke-holds and finished him off with only 20-seconds remaining for the Submission of the Night.
In a fight between a pair of 4-0 lightweights, two-time Kazakhstan National and Asian grappling champion, Azamat "Massaget" Bakytov (5-0) won a unanimous decision over Boris Medvedev (4-1), of Russia.
Another previously unbeaten fighter, Russian middleweight Ivan Bogdanov (6-1) was punched out by Vadim Shabadash (9-3) in the opening round.
On the pre-undercard, Kazakh flyweight Assu "Zulfikhar" Almabaev (10-2) knocked of yet another undefeated fighter, Frenchman Pierre Ludet (5-1), locking in a guillotine choke for a second-round submission.
Undefeated bantamweight Abylaikhan Kadyrkhan (5-0) got thing rolling in the first fight of the night, blasting out former Georgian National amateur champion Beno Adamia (5-4-1) via punches at the 53-second mark of the first round.
Below find the official results and photo gallery:
MAIN CARD
MAIN EVENT - VACANT M-1 CHALLENGE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Shavkat Rakhmonov (11-0, M-1: 6-0), Kazakhstan
WKO/TKO2 (Punches - 2:16)
Danila Prikaza (11-3-1, M-1: 8-3), Russia
(Rakhmonov wins M-1 Challenge welterweight title)
CO-FEATURE - M-1 LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Khadis Ibragimov (8-0, M-1: 4-0), Champion, Russia
WKO/TKO1
Rafal Kijanczuk, Challenger, (7-1, M-1: 3-1), Poland
( M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title)
FLYWEIGHTS
Arman Ashimov (10-3-1, M-1: 4-1), Kazakhstan
WDEC
Kayck Alencar (9-1, M-1: 1-1), Brazil
150-LBS CATCHWEIGHT
Anthony Dizy(6-1, M-1: 1-0), France
WDEC3
Abubakar Mestoev (7-1, M-1: 7-1), Russia
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Mickael Lebout (19-9-2, M-1: 3-1), France
WSUB2
Alik Albogachiev (5-2, M-1: 5-2), Russia
UNDERCARD
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Zaur Gadzhibabayev (9-3-1, M-1: 5-1-1), Azerbaijan
D3
Tanner Boser (15-5-1, M-1: 0-0-1), Canada
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Jean Petrick (10-3, M-1: 2-0), Brazil
WDEC3
Denis Tiuliulin (5-4, 1 NC, M-1: 1-2), Russia
Vadim Shabadash (9-3, M-1: 4-1), Ukraine
WKO/TKO1 (Punches - 3:54)
Ivan Bogdanov (6-1, M-1: 1-1), Russia
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Azamat Bakytov (5-0, M-1: 1-0), Kazakhstan
WDEC3
Boris Medvedev (4-1, M-1: 3-1), Russia
FEATHERWEIGHTS
George Garcia (9-3, M-1: 1-0), USA
WSUB3 (Rear Naked Choke - 4:45)
Yuri Chobuka (10-2, M-1: 2-1), Ukraine
PRE-UNDERCARD
FLYWEIGHTS
Assu Almabaev (10-2, M-1: 2-0), Kazakhstan
WSUB2 (G
uillotine Choke)
Pierre Ludet (5-1, M-1: 1-1), France
BANTAMWEIGHTS
Abylaikhan Kadyrkhan (5-0, M-1: 1-0), Kazakhstan
WKO/TKO1 (Punches - 0:53)
Beno Adamia (5-4-1, M-1: 0-1), Georgia
Anthony Dizy (R) won his M-1 debut by decision
Denis Tiuliulin was a bloody mess after his fight
Arman Ashimov (L) and Kayck Alencar both got their kicks in
Mickael Lebout (on top) submitted Alik Albogachiev
Assu Almabaev (R) tossed Pierre Ludet
Heavyweights Zaur Gadzhibabayev (L) and Tanner Boser battled to a draw
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