m1mixfight.com starts new project called M-1 Challenge diary. From now on you'll get interviews, news, reviews et cetera all dedicated to this M-1 Global project. The international M-1 Challenge team tournament has started a couple of months ago. Three editions were held in the Netherlands, Russia and Spain (Gran Canaria). First to go is the interview with M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein. He'll tell us about how the team tournament was born, its peculiarities, prospects, future Russian M-1 events and so much more...
- Vadim, tell us when the idea to launch such project came to your mind? How did it all begin? Who takes part in the project?
- Football, hockey, basketball and any other team games appeal to the audience so I thought why not try something similar in MMA. That's how originally M-1 Challenge was born.
The list of people involved in the project is as follows: production center of Jerry Millen works in its entirety for M-1 Global. Then we have a team of professionals from Japan who used to organize Pride FC events. Our friends and partners from the Netherlands, France, Spain, Russia, US and many others cooperate with us. Every single of them is the professional in his own field. At the moment I put much effort to set up a clear structure under one banner of M-1 Global.
- What's the structure of M-1 Challenge itself? What is the long-rage outlook? Do you plan to hold this project annually?
- Right now we have 10 teams but in the future I intend to increase this number to 15 teams. Moreover we plan to hold some elimination tournaments in different countries for the right to fight at M-1 Challenge and find some aspiring prospects. The best fighters from M-1 Challenge will then move on onto a bigger stage and compete in major M-1 Global events. As far as the selection of the athletes is concerned, right now we picked up the best fighters possible but later on we are going to set up a clear structure for this process of selection: elimination bouts in their respective country, M-1 Challenge events, M-1 Global shows and superfights at M-1 Challenge tournaments. That will let fighters gain necessary experience while facing appropriate level of competition. That will make it a real fighters' forge.
Yes, we plan to hold M-1 Challenge events on a yearly basis. We want the spectators to have an opportunity of watching their favorite compatriots compete and showcase their skills, to let them root for the favorites, you know. The first season will be broadcast on TV in different countries come fall of 2008. About 20 weekly one hour episodes are planned where the complete confrontation between 2 teams, which consists of 5 bouts in different weight classes, will be broadcast.
Moreover the negotiations with Monaco are ongoing now since we intend to have an event there, too. Aleksander Emelianenko and Roman Zentsov would participate in the superfights there. If the negotiations are success we'll have a nice M-1 Challenge Monaco Grand Prix event there!
- Four of M-1 Challenge installments are planned for Russia this year. Is every one of them going to be held in Saint Petersburg?
- I can't tell you for sure now, probably we'll have one of the events in Moscow or another large Russian city.
- What's the reason behind combining "the Battle on the Neva river" MMA-event and the fourth M-1 Challenge show?
- Well, at the moment we set the united structure for all our shows and this is the part of it.
- What is your impression of the first 3 M-1 Challenge shows? Is every goal reached so far? Why did some teams change?
- There are as advantages as some drawbacks, but generally everything goes as planned, evey disadvantage is being worked on in order to eliminate it and avoid it in the future. You know, it's the first season, so from time to time some teams have difficulties with their members and that's the reason why we had to substitute one fighter for another.
- In this first season the teams represent not only countries but fight clubs as well. Will you keep it in the future or not?
- I believe every fighter competing in M-1 Challenge realises he not only defends his association but his own country, too. I'm involved in MMA-management for 10 years now so I'm able to choose those who actually are one of the best in his country, every athlete has an extensive experience in MMA and many of them are the champions in diverse Martial Arts. These guys showed they deserve to represent their fight club and country on the international level. Trust me, they prepare for the fights just like the top athletes prepare for the Olympics.
- OK. Do you plan a similar elimination tournament between fight clubs in Russia in order to find the fighters worthy of participating in M-1 Challenge shows?
- Sure we do. For this year we have the representatives of two best sports clubs of Russia - Red Devil from Saint Petersburg and Southern Russian Legion. Henceforth expect other strongest fighting associations to send their fighters to compete for the right to represent Russia in the M-1 Challenge events.
