Gafurov vs Morrison in Fight of the Year Candidate to highlight explosive M-1 Challenge 47

Presents M-1 CHALLENGE 47:   Battle in the Heart of the Continent  MARAT GAFUROV vs. LEE MORRISON M-1 Challenge Featherweight Championship Apr. 4, 2014 * Orenburgzhye Sport Hall * Orenburg, Orenburg Blast, Russia

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Living combat sports legends Fedor Emelianenko (second from left) and Roy Jones Jr. (fourth from left) were very special guests at M-1 Challenge 47 ORENBURG, Russia (April 5, 2014) --  Last night's loaded top-to-bottom M-1 Challenge 47Marat Gafurovevent, headlined by a legitimate MMA Fight of the Year candidate between M-1 Challenge Featherweight Champion and invading American challenger Lee "American Bulldog" Morrison, lived up to its advanced billing at Orenburgzhye Sport Hall in Orenburg, Russia. Living boxing legend and future of Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. was a special guest.             Russian jiu-jitsu specialist Gafurov (9-0-0) successfully defended his title for the second time, defeating Morrison (13-4-0) in an action-packed match from start to finish.     Gufurov on top of Morrison  Morrison started quickly, getting Gufurov in a guillotine chock, switched to a triangle, and back to a guillotine.  Gufurov escaped the hold, kicked Morrison as they clinched, and then took down Morrison who reversed into another guillotine attempt.  A takedown by Morrison was followed by a reversal by Gufurov to end a fast-paced opening round. Starting fast once again, Morrison went for a knee-bar and leg-lock but Gufirov escaped from a tough position.  Morrison got top position by way of a great throw and locked in a tight guillotine only to have Gufurov escape once again.  Back-and-forth the action went through another exciting round. Countless submission attempts and escapes from both world-class fighters continued in the third round as Gufurov gained momentum with a series of knees to Morrison's hamstrings.  Gufurov had a strong fourth round as he picked-up his attacks with knees and strikes on the ground.    Gufurov has Morrison Gufurov kept clinching and kneeing Morrison's thighs as the two went all out in the final 90-seconds of an incredible match with Gufurov retaining his M-1 Challenge featherweight title belt with a unanimous five-round decision. In a much anticipated heavyweight rematch, Frenchman Shaban Ka (7-3-1) stopped American fighting icon Jeff "The Snowman" Monson (49-17-1) in the opening round.  The two had previously fought to a draw in 2011.  Ka started the fight strong, unloading powerful shots on the ground.  The referee halted the action after an onslaught of unanswered, vicious punches on the ground.    Ka pounds Monson Undefeated Polish heavyweight Marcin "Tybur" Tybura (10-0-0) recorded a win by third round technical knockout, maintaining his No. 1 contender position, over Croatian Maro "Gladiator" Perak (23-4-1). Tybura took control from the opening bell, working from a half guard and establishing himself with his solid ground game. Perak managed to stand up but Tybura immediately took him down again, working from mount and going for an arm-bar that Perak escaped.  Perak's great sprawl and reversal found him on top early in the second round. Tybura, however, answered with an impressive grappling performance, also pounding Perak with multiple punches. Perak ended the second round with some solid kicks.  Perak aggressively attacked at the beginning of the final round, taking down Tybura and working from the side mount.     Tybura pulled guard as Perak threw effective strikes from the top. Tybura escaped from an Achilles lock and took Perak's back, unleashing powerful punches until the referee stopped the fight.    Tybura pounds Perak  Slovanian lightweight Ivan "Buki" Buchinger (26-4-0) gained revenge against Russian veteran Sergey Golyaev (23-11-0), choking his tough opponent into a first-round submission Buchinger has won 14 of his last 17 fights but Golyaev needed only 21 seconds in their first match to become the first to knockout Buchinger.  Golyaev came out punching but Buchinger weathered the early storm and escaped from a tight triangle.  The fight became quickly featured exciting grappling and striking on the ground.  Buchinger soon took Govyaev's back and submitted him with a rear naked choke. Welterweight Julien "J-Smoove" Williams (5-1-0) was the only American fighter to register a victory at M-1 Challenge 47 with the first knockout of his professional career in his M-1 Global debut coming in the first round against previously unbeaten Russian Rasul Abdulaev (3-1-0). Abdulaev had an advantage in the first round that was a tactical wrestling match.  A tiring Abdulaev got caught in the nose with several punches by Williams that need the doctor's attention. Williams kept pressing, took mount and punched from the top until the referee ended the fight. Polish lightweight prospect Kamil Maron (5-1-0) took a three-round unanimous decision from Russian Georgy Fursov (2-2-0, 1 KO/TKO).  In a fight of attrition, Fursov slowed in the second round after a back-and-forth opening round.  Maron was in full mount and beat Fursov with strikes for most of this round.  The two fighters closed the show very strong as Maron earned the decision. Brazilian light heavyweight Luis Fernando "Hulk" Miranda (12-1-0) ruined Ukrainian National MMA champion Vasily Babich's (7-1-0) perfect pro record.  The Brazilian landed an awesome punch and slapped on a very tight guillotine, ending the action in the first round by way of submission. Russian welterweight Alexei Kunchenko (3-0-0) kept his undefeated record intact, stopping Ukrainian veteran Anatoly Safronov (19-21-0) in a fight featuring contrasting styles.  The stronger Kunchenko wanted to stand up and fight while Safronov preferred to be on the ground.  One of Kunchenko's punches broke Safronov's nose to finish the fight in the third round. Opening the card, Said Maadziev (1-1-0) won his first pro fight against Murad Mirzabekov (1-1-0) in a battle of Russian featherweights.      Full results & photo gallery below:  (Winners listed first each fight) M-1 CHALLENGE FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MARAT GAFUROV (9-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Champion, Dagestan, Russia WDEC5 LEE MORRISON (13-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Challenger, Okanogan, Washington, USA (Gufaurov retains M-1 Challenge featherweight title) HEAVYWEIGHTS CHABAN KA (7-3-1, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Villeneuve-d' Ascq, France WTKO1 JEFF MONSON (49-18-1, 3 KO/TKO, 29 SUB), Miami, Florida, USA Marcin TYBURA (10-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Lodz, Poland WKO/TKO3 MARIO PEREK (23-34-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), Dubrovnik, Croatia LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS LUIS FERNANDO MIRANDA (12-0-1, 4 KO/TKO), 7 SUB), Rio Grande, Rio Grande Do Sol, Brazil WSUB1 (Guillotine Choke) VASILY BABICH (9-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Yeupatoria, Ukraine   WELTERWEIGHTS JULIEN WILLIAMS (5-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Orlando, Florida, USA  WKO2 RASUL ABDULAEV (3-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Kolpino, Russia   ALEXEI KUNCHENKO (3-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), Tyumen, Russia   WSUB3 (Verbal) ANATOLY SAFRONEV (19-21-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 SUB), Kharkiv, Ukraine   LIGHTWEIGHTS IVAN BUCHINGER (26-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 16 SUB), Gabcikovo, Slovania WSUB1 (Rear Naked Choke) SERGEY GOLYAEV (23-11-0, 6 KO/TKO, 12 SUB), St. Petersburg, Russia FEATHERWEIGHTS KAMIL MARON (5-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 3 SUB), Tarnov, Poland   WDEC3 GEORGY FUROV (2-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Orenburg, Russia   SAID MAADZIEV (1-1-0, 1 SUB)), St. Petersburg, Russia   WSUB1 (Arm Bar) MURAD MIRZABEKOV (1-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Orenburg, Russia       Lee Morrison nails Marat Gafurov     Gafurov on top of Morrison     Julien Williams celebrates win over Rasul Abdulaev      Inside and then.....       Gerogy Fursov and Kamil Maron go outside of the ropes    Anatoly Safronov vs. Alexei Kunchenko   Luis Fernando Miranda catches Vasily Babich     Said Maadziev pops Murad Mirzabekov    Ivan Buchinger (top) and Sergey Golyaev grapple ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world's next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport's top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global's Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global's greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.

'M-1 Challenge 47' Results

Presents M-1 CHALLENGE 47:   Battle in the Heart of the Continent  MARAT GAFUROV vs. LEE MORRISON M-1 Challenge Featherweight Championship Apr. 4, 2014 * Orenburgzhye Sport Hall * Orenburg, Orenburg Blast, Russia

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Gafurov retains M-1 featherweight title Wins decision over American Lee Morrison GO HERE FOR PICTURES     https://www.dropbox.com/s/emhc9yx324kruu2/%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B8%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%82.zip  ORENBURG, Russia (April 4, 2014) --  M-1 Challenge Featherweight Champion Marat Gafurov (9-0-0) retained his title and remained undefeated, winning a five-round decision over invading American challenger Lee "American Bulldog" Morrison (13-4-0) in tonight's M-1 Challenge 47 main event at Orenburgzhye Sport Hall in Orenburg, Russia. Living boxing legend and future of Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. was a special guest. This marked the second successful title defense for Gafurov, a jiu-jitsu specialist from Russia, who originally captured the crown in 2013. In a much anticipated heavyweight rematch, Frenchman Shaban Ka (7-3-1) stopped Americanfighting icon Jeff "The Snowman" Monson (49-17-1) in the opening round.  The two had previously fought to a draw in 2011. Undefeated Polish heavyweight Marcin "Tybur" Tybura (10-0-0) recorded a win by third round technical knockout, maintaining his No. 1 contender position, over Croatian Maro "Gladiator" Perak (23-4-1). Slovanian lightweight Ivan "Buki" Buchinger (26-4-0) gained revenge against Russian veteran Sergey Golyaev (23-11-0), choking his tough opponent into a first-round submission Buchinger has won 14 of his last 17 fights but Golyaev needed only 21 seconds in their first match to become the first to knockout Buchinger. Welterweight Julien "J-Smoove" Williams (5-1-0) was the only American fighter to register a victory at M-1 Challenge 47 with the first knockout of his professional career in his M-1 Global debut coming in the first round against previously unbeaten Russian Rasul Abdulaev (3-1-0). Polish lightweight prospect Kamil Maron (5-1-0) took a three-round unanimous decision from Russian Georgy Fursov (2-2-0, 1 KO/TKO), Brazilian light heavyweight Luis Fernando "Hulk" Miranda (12-1-0) ruined Ukrainian National MMA champion Vasily Babich's (7-1-0) perfect pro record by way of an opening round guillotine choke, and Said Maadziev (1-1-0) won his first pro fight against Murad Mirzabekov (1-1-0) in a battle of Russian featherweights.  Full results:  (Winners listed first each fight) M-1 CHALLENGE FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MARAT GAFUROV (9-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Champion, Dagestan, Russia WDEC5 LEE MORRISON (13-4-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Challenger, Okanogan, Washington, USA (Gufaurov retains M-1 Challenge featherweight title) HEAVYWEIGHTS CHABAN KA (7-3-1, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Villeneuve-d' Ascq, France WTKO1 JEFF MONSON (49-18-1, 3 KO/TKO, 29 SUB), Miami, Florida, USA Marcin TYBURA (10-0-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Lodz, Poland WKO/TKO3 MARIO PEREK (23-34-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), Dubrovnik, Croatia LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS LUIS FERNANDO MIRANDA (12-0-1, 4 KO/TKO), 7 SUB), Rio Grande, Rio Grande Do Sol, Brazil WSUB1 (Guillotine Choke) VASILY BABICH (9-3-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Yeupatoria, Ukraine   WELTERWEIGHTS JULIEN WILLIAMS (5-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Orlando, Florida, USA  WKO2 RASUL ABDULAEV (3-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Kolpino, Russia   ALEXEI KUNCHENKO (3-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), Tyumen, Russia   WSUB3 (Verbal) ANATOLY SAFRONEV (19-21-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 SUB), Kharkiv, Ukraine   LIGHTWEIGHTS IVAN BUCHINGER (26-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 16 SUB), Gabcikovo, Slovania WSUB1 (Rear Naked Choke) SERGEY GOLYAEV (23-11-0, 6 KO/TKO, 12 SUB), St. Petersburg, Russia FEATHERWEIGHTS KAMIL MARON (5-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 3 SUB), Tarnov, Poland   WDEC3 GEORGY FUROV (2-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Orenburg, Russia   SAID MAADZIEV (1-1-0, 1 SUB)), St. Petersburg, Russia   WSUB1 (Arm Bar) MURAD MIRZABEKOV (1-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Orenburg, Russia   ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world's next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport's top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global's Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global's greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.

M-1 CHALLENGE 47: Battle in the Heart of the Continent

Presents  MARAT GAFUROV vs. LEE MORRISON M-1 Challenge Featherweight Championship Apr. 4, 2014 * Orenburgzhye Sport Hall * Orenburg, Orenburg Blast, Russia

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release 'M-1 Challenge 47' Friday in Orenburg, Russia OFFICIAL WEIGHTS    MAIN EVENT - M-1 CHALLENGE FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP - 5 X 5 MARAT GAFUROV (8-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Champion, Dagestan, Russia   144 ½ LBS. LEE MORRISON (13-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Challenger, Okanogan, Washington, USA 144 ½ LBS.     (L-R) Marat Gafurov, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Lee Morrison  CO-FEATURE - HEAVYWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 JEFF MONSON (49-17-1, 3 KO/TKO, 29 SUB), Miami, Florida, USA   237 ¾ LBS. CHABAN KA (6-3-1, 0 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Villeneuve-d' Ascq, France   246 ½ LBS.    (L-R) -- Jeff Monson, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Chaban Ka  HEAVYWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 Marcin TYBURA (9-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Lodz, Poland   242 ½ LBS. MARIO "Gladiator" PEREK (23-33-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), Dubrovnik, Croatia   219 ½ LBS.     (L-R) -- Marcin Tybura, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Mario Perak LIGHTWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 IVAN BUCHINGER (25-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 15 SUB), Gabcikovo, Slovania    153 ¾ LBS.                                  SERGEY GOLYAEV (23-10-0, 6 KO/TKO, 12 SUB), St. Petersburg, Russia   154 ¼ LBS.    (L-R) -- Sergey Golyaev, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Ivan Buchinger   LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 LUIS FERNANDO MIRANDA (11-0-1, 4 KO/TKO), 6 SUB), Rio Grande, Rio Grande Do Sol, Brazil  202 LBS. VASILY BABICH (9-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), Yeupatoria, Ukraine   202 ½ LBS.     (L-R) -- Luis Fernando Miranda, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Vasily Babich WELTERWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 JULIEN WILLIAMS (4-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), Orlando, Florida, USA  170 LBS.  RASUL ABDULAEV (3-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Kolpino, Russia   169 ¾ LBS.     (L-R) -- Rasul Abdulaev, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Julien Williams FEATHERWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 KAMIL MARON (4-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 3 SUB), Tarnov, Poland   145 LBS. GEORGY FUROV (2-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Orenburg, Russia   145 LBS.    (L-R) -- Georgy Fursov and Kamil Maron  WELTERWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 ALEXEI KUNCHENKO (2-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), Tyumen, Russia   168 LBS. ANATOLY SAFRONEV (19-20-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 SUB), Kharkiv, Ukraine   169 ¾ LBS.    (L-R) -- Anatoly Safronev, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Alexei Kunchenko FEATHERWEIGHTS - 3 X 5 MURAD MIRZABEKOV (1-0-0, 0 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), Orenburg, Russia   144 ½ LBS. SAID MAADZIEV (0-1-0), St. Petersburg, Russia  144 ½ LBS.     (L-R) -- Murad Mirzabekov, M-1 promoter Vadim Finkelchtein and Said Maadziev WHAT:          M-1 Challenge 47: Battle in the Heart of the Continentent WHEN:           Friday, April 4, 2014 WHERE:         Orenburgzhye Sport Hall, Orenburg, Orenburg Blast, Russia PROMOTER:   M-1 Global LIVE BROADCAST:      FREE at www.m-1global.tv (Friday, April 4 at 11 a.m. / 8 a.m. PT in U.S.A.).  Also On Russia 2 throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Individual States (CIS), as well as across the Middle East on Abu Dhabi Sports Channels  INFORMATION:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244  ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world's next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport's top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global's Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global's greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.

Lee Morrison brings 'American Bulldog' mode To attack M-1 champion Marat Gafurov 'M-1 Challenge 47' this Friday in Russia

Presents M-1 CHALLENGE 47:   Battle in the Heart of the Continent  MARAT GAFUROV vs. LEE MORRISON M-1 Challenge Featherweight Championship Apr. 4, 2014 * Orenburgzhye Sport Hall * Orenburg, Orenburg Blast, Russia

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release    ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (March 31, 2014) - The opportunity American featherweight contender Lee "American Bulldog" Morrision (13-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) has trained so hard for finally arrives April 4 on M-1 Challenge 47: Battle in the Heart of the Continent," airing free worldwide on M-1Global.tv, live from Orenburgzhe Sport Hall in Orenburgh, Russia. Morrison takes on unbeaten M-1 Challenge featherweight champion Marat Gafurov (8-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) in the highly-anticipated main event.   Unbeaten in his last eight fights, dating back nearly three years, Morrison will be fighting a long way from his home in Okanogon, Washington.   The 28-year-old former collegiate wrestling star, at North Dakota College and Menio College in California, won his M-1 Global debut in his last fight (Oct. 20, 2013) with a hard fought split decision over Mikhail Malyutin at M-1 Challenge 42 to earn "Fight of the Night" honors. He also positioned himself as the No. 1 M-1 Challenge featherweight contender. His first fight in Russia may have been somewhat surreal for him but this trip he's on a mission to bring the coveted M-1 Challenge belt home to America.  "Fighting in Russia the first time was quite interesting because it was like I was fighting alone in my head," Morrison explained what it was like for him.  "I traveled internationally to fight in a big organization.  I had never been there and fans hadn't see me before. Everything was breathtaking the last fight but this fight won't be as much of a culture shock for me.  Interest is even greater because a title is on the line this time. "I'm coming to show what I'm capable of doing and hope to have my hand raised at the end of the fight.  I'm a guy who is explosive.  I've worked hard on conditioning; muscle movement - when to release and when to maintain - because I needed to prepare for a five-round fight.  Seeing how I've been a wrestler all my life, I to try to stand-up and move around more in every fight.  I've worked on my stand-up but I'm not really certain what will happen once the fight starts." The 29-year-old Gafurov is a jiu-jitsu world champion from Russia who won the inaugural M-1 Challenge featherweight championship Nov. 15, 2013, choking Vugar Bahshiev into a submission at M-1 Challenge 35. In his first and only title defense to date, Gaforov stopped Yuri Ivlev by way of punches in the second round, last November at M-1 Challenge 41. "He's undefeated, one of the top featherweight fighters in the world," Morrison talked about his opponent.  "Gafurov's tough, very talented, strong and a Russian fighting at home.  He's the cream-of-the-crop.  A win will elevate me to another level." An intriguing co-feature pits another American, ageless Jeff "The Snowman" Monson (49-17-1, 3 KO/TKO, 29 SUB), against French heavyweight Chaban Ka (6-3-1, 0 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) in a rematch of their 2011 fight that ended in a draw. Monson is an MMA icon whose 16-year professional MMA career includes six fights in Russia (3-3-0), highlighted by a loss by decision to the great Fedor Emelianenko, as well as a win by submission (north-south choke) over Fedor's younger brother,Alekander Emelianenko.    M-1 Challenge 47 will also be broadcast live on Russia 2, the terrestrial channel, throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Individual States (CIS), as well as across the Middle East on Abu Dhabi Sports Channels. Chief support on the undercard will be provided by a Special Heavyweight Attraction featuring unbeaten Polish heavyweight Marcin "Tybur" Tybura (9-0-0, 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) and always dangerous Croatian powerhouse Maro "Gladiator" Perak (23-3-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB).  Slovakian lightweight Ivan "Buki" Buchinger (25-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 15 SUB) is out seeking revenge against Russian veteran Sergey Golyaev (23-10-0, 6 KO/TKO, 12 SUB), who in 2010 needed only 21 seconds to become the first to knockout Buchinger. Another American invader fighting on the loaded M-1 Challenge 47 event, making his M-1 Global debut, is Floridian welterweight Julien "J-Smoove" Williams (4-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 4 SUB), who faces  unbeaten Russian grappling specialist Rasul Abdulaev (3-0-0, 1 KO/TKO, 0 SUB),  the 2013 National and European amateur MMA champion. Also fighting on the undercard is a pair of featherweight prospects, Kamil Maron (4-1-0, 0 KO/TKO, 3 SUB), pf Poland, vs. Georgy Fursov (2-1-0, 1 KO/TKO), of Russia; Brazilian light heavyweight Luis Fernando "Hulk" Miranda (11-1-0) vs. Ukrainian National MMA champion Vasily Babich (9-2-0, 3 KO/TKO/5 SUB); Russian welterweight Alexei Kunchenko (2-0-0, 1 KO/1 SUB) tests himself vs. Ukrainian veteran Anatoly "Doctor" Safronev (19-20-0, 3 KO/TKO/8 SUB); andMurad Mirzabekov (1-0) vs. Said Maadziev (0-1-0) rounds-out this entertaining card in a battle of young Russian featherweights.  All fights and fighters are subject to change. The M-1 Challenge series has traditionally introduced a new wave of potential MMA stars, showcasing elite athletes from Russia and across Europe. M-1 Global is the No. 1 European MMA organization, as well as one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 1998. Superstar Fedor Emelianenko, considered by many to be the greatest fighter in MMA history, has been the face of M-1 Global around the combat sports world for the past decade. Go on Facebook for more information about M-1 Global and M-1 Challenge 47 athttps://www.facebook.com/pages/M-1-Global/145250878842244. ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world's next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St Petersburg, Amsterdam and Los Angeles and affiliates in Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand has staged more than 150 events worldwide, including the M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge and M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the Showtime network in the United States. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport's top names, including Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2014 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fuelled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global's Champions amongst the greatest in the sport. M-1 Global's greatest asset is renowned heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko.