Ian 'The Oracle' Dean
Ian ‘The Oracle’ Dean is the mainstay of Warrior Promotions and matchmaker extraordinaire. His innate ability to pick the best matches for Cage Warriors has earned him the title ‘The Oracle’ along with his encyclopedic knowledge of UK & International MMA. iandean@cagewarriors.com
M-1 Challenge in the UK
29/08/08 02:00
So today for the first time the M-1 Challenge is coming to the UK and brings with it four International sides who are looking to earn a spot in the inaugural M-1 Challenge finals on New Years Eve in Japan. Next year Warrior Promotions (the owners of the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship) will enter a UK team for the 2nd season of this exciting global competition.
So as the Title says, what does this mean to UK fighters? I feel the M-1 Challenge gives fighters a unique opportunity to not only represent their nation and to work in a diverse team made up of fighters from around the UK. And the M-1 Challenge gives fighters a solid platform to test their skills against the best opposition available, while being able to fight around the world in a variety of exotic locations and taking on fighters they may have only read about on the internet or seen on Youtube.
Also the way the UK M-1 Challenge team is being structured will help ease a lot of problems that UK fighters face. As not only will the team be representing the UK, but it will be a truly united force, with a centralised management plan that will involve group sponsorship, training sessions, and an array of structures and packages which will give fighters the support network they need to develop.
Already this year there have been M-1 Challenge shows in Korea, Japan, Russia, Holland and Spain. And with the M-1 Challenge series being expanded to 16 teams next year (Including teams from Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil and more) and with a recent TV deal being signed with HDNet in the United States as well as deals in Canada and Mexico and around the world the future looks bright for this fledging competition.
And with many fighters in the 2008 M-1 Challenge series moving onto bigger and better things (Bendy Casimir, Gegard Mousasi to name just a few) this gives huge incentive for fighters to step-up and be part of this international tournament. The M-1 Challenge has already shown it can it can elevate fighters and give them valuable fight and life experience far beyond the concert halls, sports centres and nightclubs of the UK.
With the attractive package offered to UK fighters which including a support and training network, along with the chance to move up a level whilst on a non-exclusive deal and fight around the world whilst working with your fellow countrymen as they look to claim a fight on New Years Eve and a big cash prize should be a huge goal in the career of a fighter.
I believe those that dismiss this unique opportunity will regret it once the team has been announced and represent themselves, their country and the UK MMA scene with pride as this is a huge opportunity for any fighter and they should grab this with both hands.
Archived articles
M-1 Challenge in the UK
29/08/08 02:00
Jeff 'Wombat' Meszaros
Jeff ‘Wombat’ Meszaros has over 10 years experience covering mixed martial arts for websites, magazines, radio and television. In twenty years martial arts experience he holds Black belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo, Brown belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, Brown belt in Judo and was a 2008 Pan American silver medalist in BJJ . jeff_meszaros@hotmail.com
M-1 Predictions
29/08/08 07:39
As a professional fight nerd, I am a walking encyclopedia of mixed martial arts knowledge. Instead of common sense topics like table manners, business sense and basic personal hygiene, my brain is full of fight stats, figures and trivia, which I spew forth at totally inappropriate moments, such as at parties, while on first dates and, on one unfortunate occasion, during a wedding speech. We don't need to go into details on that. My point is you'd have a hard time finding someone more in tune with the sport than myself.
With that in mind, here in North America where the UFC is the top show and the sport is called "Ultimate Fighting" by the major media, even seasoned fight nerds such as myself don't know much about M-1, aside from the fact that they have Fedor Emelianenko under contract and a seemingly endless bankroll of Russian rubles in their pockets. In fact, when I heard they were bringing their seventh show to Nottingham in the U.K., I was surprised that they'd done six previous shows, with teams no less, none of which I'd seen or even heard about.
Now, with the next M-1 event just around the corner, Cagewarriors.com has asked me to throw together my thoughts for a North American perspective on the whole thing. I have to say it hasn't been an easy task, especially considering that the card for the September 27th event has seen more turnover than your neighborhood bakery, with fighters popping on and off the card like a game of whack-a-mole. In fact, the final product may bear no resemblance whatsoever to what I'm about to throw down. That being said, here are my predictions.
Wayne Buck vs. Matteo ‘The Brutal' Minonzio
Buck comes from a background in boxing and powerlifting, which means if he can't knock you out on the feet, he'll close the distance and tear off your arms like a sadistic child pulling the wings off a housefly. Anyone who's seen Minonzio fight knows why he is called "The Brutal". He flies across the ring at the opening bell and assaults you like you him money. It isn't the prettiest fighting style you've ever seen in your life, but it works about half the time and the huge Italian is 7-6-0 in MMA fights. Buck is 4-1, with his only loss coming to the enormous wildman from Italy by a controversial TKO stoppage due to a cut. Now, Buck is out to avenge his sole defeat. Will he do it? I think so. Buck seems to have the edge when it comes to strength and skill, while Minonzio has the lead in savagery and experience. If Buck can avoid having his face split open again, he will probably out-box Minonzio and win by either knockout or decision.
Mikhail Malyutin vs. David Gardner (Red Devils vs. Team USA)
Malyutin has a one of the hardest right hands I've ever seen in my life, and lands it with perfect timing. The overall effect is staggering, as he knocks opponents to the ground with so much force, they land like they've been thrown out of a speeding car. His double-leg takedown is no different, except instead of a car, opponents his the ground like the unfornate victims of some terrible parachuting accident. Gardner has beaten UFC veterans Rich Clementi and Doug Evans, as well as IFL fighter Ryan Schultz, but I'm not sure if he's faced someone as well-rounded as Malyutin before. Of course, you could say the same thing about Malyutin's chances against Gardner since he has been fighting a who's who of opponents who are unknown on the big stage; at least here in North America. Considering this, I'll pick Gardner to win, since he is more experienced and has fought higher-caliber competitors.
Erik Oganov vs. Jake Ellenberger (Red Devils vs. Team USA)
Oganov isn't the biggest welterweight in the world, but he is a deceptively hard-hitter, with wins over Derrick Noble and Keith Wisniewski. In both of those fights, he was able to bounce in and out of range, and land looping hooks with insane crushing power. Imagine a rabbit with two sledgehammers and you get the idea. Ellenberger has power in both of his hands as well, and has smashed UFC veteran Gil Castillo as well as MMA legend Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons, who he dispatched in just 9-seconds. I saw that fight and I seriously thought "Pele" was choking on his own teeth afterwards. Who wins this one? I'm picking Ellenberger who, and I have confirmed this in interviews, has a goat named "Little Jake" after him at Matt Lindland's farm.
Dmitry Samoilov vs. Brandon Magana (Red Devils vs. Team USA)
Samoilov is a lot like his Red Devil team-mate Malyutin, except he is blonde. Before you launch into a fit, I'd like to point out that "Red Devil" is the name of the team, not something I'm calling either Russian fighter. In his fight at the first M-1 event, he beat his opponent senseless both standing and on the ground before the fight was finally stopped due to a cut. When the referee raised his hand, Samoilov didn't react at all and looked around like he was waiting at a bus stop. Something about that is very, very chilling. While Samoilov is 4-2-1, Magana is 5-1, although most of his wins have come against fighters with either a 50/50 record or very few fights. The one noteable name on his record is Jared Rollins from The Ultimate Fighter, who Magana apprently beat in his very first MMA fight, although the win came by disqualification. I'm going to pick Samoilov to win this one.
Mikhail Zayats vs. Bryan Harper (Red Devils vs. Team USA)
I am constantly astounded at the resumes of Russian fighters. Zayats, for example, is the 2007 Russian hand-to-hand combat champion, which is different (I think) than being a champion of combat Sambo which, from what I've seen, is essentially just mixed martial arts with a judo jacket on or, in other words, hand-to-hand combat. I've even heard some Russian fighters say they are full-contact Jiu-Jitsu champions, which is another piece in the puzzle. The point, I suppose, is that there are a lot of different combat sports in Russia, many of which involve punching someone in the face, throwing them on their head and then twisting their arms off. Like many Russians, Zayats has won championships in each of them and is, therefore, one scary customer. Harper is a four-time veteran of King of the Cage, and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu who is now training with Team Quest in Temecula, California, alongside Dan Henderson, Rameau Sokodjou and a host of other top-league fighters. Both fighters are 5-1, so this is a hard match to pick. I'll flip a coin and go with Harper.
Kirill Sidelnikov vs. Jeremiah Constant (Red Devils vs. Team USA)
Sidelnikov is the apprentice to the throne of MMA kingpin Fedor Emelianenko, and has been pointed to by the heavyweight champion as a name to watch in the future of the sport. That's a lot of pressure to put on a 21-year old, but Sidelnikov has been doing a good job living up to the role, knocking out three opponents with a savage striking style curiously reminiscent of his coach. With a record of 7-5-0, Constant has more experience than the 3-2 Russian, but does not carry the same amount of hype, since nobody is crowning him the future king of the sport just yet. Constant just ended a three-fight losing streak with a win over a Korean fighter who is 1-7; hardly the most impressive stretch to bring into the ring. While Sidelnikov is coming off a loss, it is to Jarno Nurminen who is 4-1, and Sidelnikov took him to decision. Considering their recent performances, I'll go with Sidelnikov to win by TKO.
Christian Smith vs. Cliff Hall
Smith is coming off two losses, and a six-month layoff, so he will be foaming at the mouth to get back in the cage and knock Hall's head off. It won't such an easy task, however, since Hall is on a three-fight winning streak, and has gotten used to the feeling of squeezing someone's neck until their life begins to slip away. Dropping from light-heavyweight, Smith will be the larger fighter and will have more experience than Hall, as his 7-1 record does not include the many fights he has had on unrecorded shows. Hall tends to win or lose on the ground, and is 6-3, with all but one of those fights ending by tapout. Even though Smith prefers to trade punches, I can see this one going to the ground quickly, where someone will come out on top. Who will it be? I suspect Smith will be able to power his way out of submissions and win by TKO.
Team Russia Legion vs. Team World
The rest of the September 27th M-1 card consists of Team Russia Legion taking on Team World. Who exactly will be on these teams come fight day remains to be seen but, whoever ends up stepping into the ring, it will be another five fights for fans to enjoy. I am hearing through the MMA grapevine that M-1 plans to have 20 teams on their roster for 2009, with fighters from all over the world competing. I'm still not sold on the 'team' idea for MMA. The IFL tried it and now they are living in their parent's basement and working at the gas station to pay off their debts. Hopefully, it will work this time and M-1 will be able to make the sport of MMA as mainstream in Europe as the UFC is here in North America.
Archived articles
M-1 Predictions
29/08/08 07:39
