M-1 Global (Mixfight-1) or MMA-1 (Mixed martial arts-1) is a mixed martial arts promotion based in St. Petersburg, Russia founded by businessman Vadim Finkelchtein in 1997.
Originating from the Russian "mixfight" scene of the 1990s, M-1 grew from local tournament events into one of the most prominent MMA organizations in Russia and one of the better-known promotions outside the UFC and PRIDE during the 2000s.
The promotion became particularly associated with heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, whose career was managed by Finkelchtein, and became notable for its willingness to cooperate with other major MMA organizations rather than operate solely as a competing promotion. Throughout its history, M-1 has co-promoted or collaborated with organizations including PRIDE, Affliction, Strikeforce and the UFC, while also developing its own international competition through the M-1 Challenge. M-1 has played a significant role in the development of Russian and Eastern European MMA, providing an early platform for numerous fighters who later competed at the highest level of the sport.
History M-1 traces its origins to the Russian "mixfight" (Russian nickname for early MMA, or vale tudo) scene of the mid-1990s, when businessman Vadim Finkelchtein became involved in the sport through his promotion of Red Devil Energy Drink. While looking to promote the new brand, Finkelchtein was approached by Dutch "mixed- fight" organizers and agreed to sponsor a tournament in the Netherlands; after attending the event and becoming impressed by the sport's appeal, he decided to bring mixed fighting to Russia. Working with figures from the emerging St. Petersburg fight scene, including Nikolai Kudryashov, Finkelchtein helped organize the first M-1 tournament at the Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg on November 1, 1997. Billed as a European Championship in Mixfight, the event attracted more than 4,000 spectators at a time when mixed martial arts was still largely unknown in Russia and was commonly promoted as "mixfight" or "fights without rules". The success of the tournament led to the establishment of M-1 as a regular promotion and to the development of the Red Devil Sport Club, an MMA gym which became closely associated with the organization.
Following the inaugural tournament, M-1 gradually expanded its schedule and reach. Early events were concentrated in St. Petersburg and featured single-elimination tournament-style competitions, but the promotion began holding events elsewhere in Russia, including Sochi in 2000 and Moscow in 2003. During this period, M-1 also developed the Red Devil Sport Club into one of Russia's leading MMA teams, attracting fighters from across the country and establishing a close relationship between the promotion, its fighters, and Finkelchtein's management organization. The most important fighter to emerge from this system was Fedor Emelianenko, who began working with Finkelchtein in 2003 after establishing himself as a rising heavyweight in Russia. Fedor's subsequent success, particularly during his reign as PRIDE Heavyweight Champion, gave M-1 an international profile and helped establish the promotion as one of the leading organizations in Russian MMA.
Following PRIDE Fighting Championships's collapse in 2007, M-1 became involved in the transition of Japan's MMA scene through Yarennoka!, a New Year's Eve event held at Saitama Super Arena on December 31, 2007 and co-promoted by former PRIDE personnel and M-1 Global. Headlined by Fedor Emelianenko, who defeated Hong-Man Choi, the event effectively served as a PRIDE's farewell event and bridge between the PRIDE era and the emerging international MMA landscape. M-1's involvement also reflected its growing strategy of working across promotions to keep Fedor competing internationally, setting the stage for later partnerships with Affliction and other organizations.
M-1 Challenge During the second half of the 2000s, M-1 increasingly pursued an international strategy. The organization promoted events outside Russia and sought to create a global network of fighters and teams, culminating in the launch of the M-1 Challenge in 2008. Unlike a conventional MMA league, the Challenge used national and regional teams competing against one another across a series of events, with fighters representing countries including Russia, the United States, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Japan, South Korea and others. The format helped M-1 build an international roster while providing a competitive pathway for emerging fighters.
Around the same period, M-1 became involved in one of the most significant attempts to challenge the UFC's dominance of the international MMA market through its partnership with Affliction Entertainment. Fedor Emelianenko headlined Affliction's first two major MMA events in 2008 and 2009, defeating Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski respectively. Although Affliction ultimately abandoned MMA promotion in 2009, M-1 continued operating independently and increasingly established itself as a major European and Russian promotion.
M-1, in 2009, signed a contract to co-promote with Explosion Entertainment, owners of Strikeforce.
It hosted its first major show (rather than co-promoting with other organizations) entitled M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough on August 28, 2009 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.
M-1 Selection
The M-1 Selection is a MMA competition where the next generation of fighters are given the opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage with fighters being eliminated after only one loss; victory will advance the winning fighters throughout the tournament and earn them a trip to the championship event where they will compete for a “M-1 Selection” title.
UFC Partnership On July 18, 2018, it was announced that M-1 has agreed in a partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where M-1 Global serves as the farm league for the UFC to scout Russian fighters for the UFC and involves in preparation and organizes new shows in Russia. Part of the deal also allows M-1 champions to have the opportunity to sign with the UFC.
List of M-1 Global events
No.Event DateVenueLocation 47 M-1 Selection Online: Tournament in Support of Maksim Shugaley Tinkoff Arena St. Petersburg, Russia 46 MMA SERIES-10: WKG & M-1 Online Tinkoff Arena St. Petersburg, Russia 45 Road to M-1 USA 4 Charles F. Dodge City Center Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States 44 M-1 Challenge 105 - Morozov vs. Rettinghouse Barys Arena Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan 43 Road To M-1 USA 3 Paducah Convention Center Paducah, Kentucky, United States 42 M-1 Challenge 104 - Bogatov vs. Lebout Orenburzhye Sport Arena Kazan, Russia 41 M-1 Challenge 103 - Pletenko vs. Kelades Shenzhen, China 40 M-1 Challenge 102 - Rakhmonov vs. Lacerda Barys Arena Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan 39 Road To M-1 Chelyabinsk Palace Of Culture Chelyabinsk, Russia 38 Road To M-1 USA 2 Quechan Casino Resort Winterhaven, California, United States 37 M-1 Challenge 101 - Prikaza vs. Rakhmonov Halyk Arena Almaty, Kazakhstan 36 M-1 Challenge/ WKG 3 - Bogatov vs. Silva Nanshan Culture & Sports Center Harbin, China 35 M-1 Challenge 100 - Battle in Atyrau Atyrau, Kazakhstan 34M-1 Challenge 99 - Battle Of Narts 4 M1 Arena Nazran, Russia 33M-1 Challenge 98 - Frolov vs. Silva Traktor Ice Arena Chelyabinsk, Russia 32M-1 Challenge 97 - Bogatov vs. Pereira Basket-Hall Arena Kazan, Russia 31M-1 Challenge 96 - Mikutsa vs. Ibragimov M-1 Arena Saint Petersburg, Russia 30M-1 Challenge 95 - Battle in the Mountains 7 The Mountain Nazran, Russia 29M-1 Challenge 94 - Damkovsky vs. Ismagulov Sports Complex "Orenburg" Orenburg, Russia 28M-1 Challenge 93 - Shlemenko vs. Silva Traktor Ice Arena Chelyabinsk, Russia 27M-1 Challenge 92 - Kharitonov vs. Vyazigin M-1 Arena Saint Petersburg, Russia 26M-1 Challenge 91 - Swain vs. Nuertiebieke Nanshan Culture & Sports Center Shenzhen, China 25M-1 Challenge 90 - Kunchenko vs. Butenko M-1 Arena Saint Petersburg, Russia 24M-1 Challenge 89 - Buchinger vs. Krasnikov M-1 Arena Saint Petersburg, Russia 23M-1 Challenge 88 - Ismagulov vs. Tutarauli Olimpiyskiy Moscow, Russia 22M-1 Challenge 87 - Silander vs. Ashimov M1 Arena Saint Petersburg, Russia 21Road to M-1: Battle in Nazran 9 Sports Palace "Magas" Nazran, Russia 20M-1 Challenge 86 - Buchinger vs. Dalgiev Sports Palace "Magas" Nazran, Russia 19M-1 Challenge 85: Ismagulov vs. Matias Olimpiyskiy Moscow, Russia 18M-1 Challenge 84 - Kunchenko vs. Romanov Ice Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia 17M-1 Challenge 83 - Ragozin vs. Halsey Basket-Hall Kazan Kazan, Russia 16Road to China 2 Grand Restaurant Qin Moscow, Russia 15Road to M-1: Battle in Nazran 8 Sports Palace "Magas" Nazran, Russia 14M-1 Challenge 82 - Vanttinen vs. Zayats Hartwall Arena Helsinki, Finland 13M-1 Challenge 81 - Battle in the Mountains 6 The Mountain Nazran, Russia 12M-1 Challenge 80 - Kharitonov vs. Sokoudjou Harbin International Convention Exhibition and Sports Center Harbin, China 11Road to M-1: St. Petersburg 3 A2 Green Concert Hall Saint Petersburg, Russia 10M-1 Challenge 79 - Shlemenko vs. Halsey 2 Yubileyny Sports Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia 9M-1 Challenge 78 - Divnich vs. Ismagulov Orenburzhye Sport Arena Orenburg, Russia 8Road to M-1: Battle in Nazran 7 Sports Palace "Magas" Nazran, Russia 7M-1 Challenge 77 - Nemkov vs. Markes Sochi sport palace Sochi, Russia 6Road to M-1: St. Petersburg 2 A2 Green Concert Hall Saint Petersburg, Russia 5M-1 Challenge 76 - Nevzorov vs. Evloev Sports Palace "Magas" Nazran, Russia 4Road to M-1: Battle in Nazran 6 Sports Palace "Magas" Nazran, Russia 3M-1 Challenge 75 - Shlemenko vs. Bradley Olimpiyskiy Moscow, Russia 2M-1 Challenge 74 - Yusupov vs. Puetz Ice Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia 1Road to M-1: St. Petersburg 1 A2 Green Concert Hall Saint Petersburg, Russia
Current M-1 USA National champions Division Champion Since Defenses Welterweight Dakota Cochrane April 4, 2019 0
List of M-1 Global champions
M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship Weight limit: No.NameEventDateDefensesCurrentVacantN/AN/AN/A Alexander Volkov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.5 Alexander Volkov M-1 Challenge 64 February 19, 2016 Marcin Tybura vacated the title when he signed for UFC.4 Marcin Tybura M-1 Challenge 50 August 15, 20143 Damian Grabowski M-1 Challenge 44 November 30, 2013 N/A2 Kenny Garner M-1: Fedor vs. Rizzo June 21, 2012Interim Kenny Garner M-1 Challenge 27 October 14, 20111 Guram Gugenishvili M-1 Challenge 21 October 28, 2010
M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship Weight limit: No.NameEventDateDefensesCurrentVacantN/AN/AN/A Khadis Ibragimov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.8 Khadis Ibragimov M-1 Challenge 96 August 25, 2018 Rashid Yusupov vacated the title when he signed for PFL.7 Rashid Yusupov M-1 Challenge 66 May 27, 20166 Viktor Nemkov M-1 Challenge 63 December 4, 2015 N/A5 Stephan Puetz M-1 Challenge 46 March 14, 20144 Viktor Nemkov M-1 Challenge 43 November 16, 2013 N/A Sergey Kornev vacated the title.3 Sergey Kornev M-1 Challenge 34 September 30, 2012 N/A Vinny Magalhães vacated the title when he signed for UFC.2 Vinny Magalhães M-1 Challenge 25 April 28, 2011 Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vacated the title when he moved down to middleweight.1 Vyacheslav Vasilevsky M-1 Challenge 22 December 10, 2010 N/A
M-1 Global Middleweight Championship Weight limit: