Interview with M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein where he tells about the last M-1 Challenge in Saint Petersburg, reveals future plans and states where and when Fedor will fight again this year.
What’s your impression after the M-1 Challenge 4 ‘Battle on the Neva 2’ is over?
Everything went just fine. We worried a lot about the weather since it was an open air event. We got lucky though. Moreover I felt worried for my fighters especially for Kirill Sidelnikov because the Finnish team was so strong so far.
Has everything gone as planned?
Yes, it has. The next year we intend to hold a similar show on the pontoon. We’ll hold it annually.
Are you satisfied with the results of Red Devil representatives?
Undoubtedly I am. If you look at Finns, they were so solid and hard to beat, but we finished so strong with 4-1 overall. Now that Red Devil is slated to face off with the US and South Korea I believe we have pretty good chances of breaking into the semifinals.
Who was the most significant athlete you could mention after the show?
Well I liked the way Mikhail Malyutin handled his opponent. They gave the audience a stellar fight. Kirill Sidelnikov had a very exciting bout and I believe the judges should have given the adversaries one extra round. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful night of excellent bouts. Red Devil athletes proved they have that winlust and they were superior to other competitors that night.
Will M-1 Challenge ever be broadcast on Russian TV?
We still are in negotiations with some channels. We definitely want this project to be broadcast to the public so that the audience could watch all the events in order to draw a conclusion which team was the best, whose style was better an so on.
Is there any truth to the rumor M-1 Challenge 7, previously scheduled to be held in Saint Petersburg will now be held in the USA?
Originally we had planned too many events in Russia, you know. That was the main reason to organize one event elsewhere. We are currently looking for a venue in the US or maybe even in Great Britain. Probably we’ll hold the October event in Chechnya. By the way Fedor’s been there not so long time ago.
What about the 8-th installment of the project? It was slated for France, then emigrated to Monaco...Were the negotiations with this principality successful so far?
Unfortunately there will be no event in Monaco this year as we won’t have time enough to settle everything. That’s why this event will most likely move to Geneva, Switzerland.
Please reveal the situation concerning the upcoming Fighting Fedor reality-show.
The shooting is commencing come the end of July-early August. Right now we round every tiny thing out.
What is Fedor to expect after his July bout against Tim Sylvia? How many fights and in what promotions are planned for him before the end of 2008?
Two more fights are planned for Fedor. The first one in October in the context of the next Affliction show in conjunction with M-1 Global. The second one at New Year’s Eve in Japan, most likely it’s going to be the M-1 Challenge Finale and Fedor will compete in a superfight, probably his opponent will be the winner of ‘Fighting Fedor’ or another top fighter.
