New York City, New York (March 7, 2011) – Coming off a highly successful 2010, M-1 Global’s highly anticipated M-1 Selection 2011 kicks off in Asia with the region’s Opening Round tournament bouts announced today; the live event takes place Saturday, March 26th, 2011 at Event Hall 135-713 in the Fashion Center Building in Seoul, South Korea.
“M-1 Global continues to provide the proving ground for young fighters around the globe to seize their opportunity and become stars on the world stage,” says Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations of Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, M-1Global. “The 2010 Selection tournaments have showcased the caliber of competition worldwide. The Selections tournament has laid a successful foundation and in 2011 we continue to focus on scouring the globe for the best up-and-coming fighters.”
The Opening round bouts feature rising Japanese and Korean fighters who are taking their first steps at the Asia tournament championships.
M-1 Selection 2011-Asia Opening Round 1 Main Card Matchups:
Kim JangYong ( Korea) vs. Henrique Maromba (Japan) Lightweight
Lee Dong Young (Korea) vs. Toshiya Kurenai (Japan) Welterweight
Kim Hee Seung (Korea) vs. Eduardo Sakamoto (Japan) Middleweight
Han Hae Young (Korea) vs. Junpei Hamada (Japan) Light Heavyweight
Son Hai Suk (Korea) vs. Gilberto Monma (Japan) Heavyweight
Kwak Myung Sik (Korea) vs. Yuichiro Ono (Japan) Lightweight
Ahn Seung ho (Korea) vs. Fabio Sakamoto (Japan) Welterweight
Kim Nam Young (Korea) vs. Shiokawa Franca Tiago (Japan) Middleweight
Kim doo Hwan (Korea) vs. Lucas Tani (Japan) Light Heavyweight
Yu young woo (Korea) vs. Masanori Iwamoto (Japan) Heavyweight
M-1 Selection 2011-Asia Opening Round 1 Under Card Matchups:
Jo Dongil (Korea) vs. Tin taeho (Korea) Lightweight
Kim deamyeong (Korea) vs. Gwon iljin (Korea) Lightweight
Son sejoong (Korea) vs. Jang ji hoon (Korea) Welterweight
The “M-1 Selection” is the world’s premiere MMA competition where the next generation of superstars 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 the coveted “M-1 Selection” title.
The “M-1 Selection” tournament is broken down into global regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia,and the Americas with each region hosting three rounds and a final of the “M-1 Selection” tournament. The winning fighter in each weight class will gain the opportunity to fight on the larger international stage.
M-1 Global makes its return to US soil on Friday, March 25th for M-1 Challenge XXIV: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa from the Constant Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Current lightweight champ, Artiom Damkovsky gears up for his first title defense against 2010 M-1 Selection Americas winner, Jose Figueroa and Tyson ‘The Anti-Hero’ Jeffries faces Magomed Sultanakhmedov in a title fight for the currently vacant middleweight championship.
With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.
2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.
