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Bloodied and bruised fighters Viktor Nemkov (L) and new champion Stephan Puetz (R)
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (March 14, 2014) - German challenger Stephan Puetz(9-3-0) captured the M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title tonight, upsetting defending champion Viktor Nemkov (19-5-0) by split decision in a highly entertaining and competitive M-1 Challenge 46 main event, at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Puetz came on strong in the second-half of the fight, overcoming a serious cut over his left eye from an uppercut, to survive a battle of attrition with Nemkov. The 6' 6", 26-year-old from Munich had already won the titles of all three major German MMA organizations.
Nemkov has trained with legendary Fedor Emelianenko, who was seated at ringside, in Staryi Oskol since he was a youngster. He had won the M-1 Challenge 205-pound title in his last fight against Vasily Babich (SUB2 - arm-bar).
Living legend Fedor Emelianenko
Nemkov caught Puetz with a sharp three-punch combination early in the opening round and moved for a takedown. Puetz attempted to stand-up, using the cage, but Nemkov put him back into the guard position. Puetz escaped a deep guillotine, triangle and arm-bar and another guillotine by Nemkov. The German came out attacking in the second round but he's taken down by Nemkov, who landed a few punches and looked for a submission. The fighters were back on their feet and Puetz ended the round with a takedown.
In the third round, Puetz came out clinching and using his knees, following with a move to take the back of Nemkov, who seeps to the top of guard. Puetz started to take control of the fight at this point against a tiring Nemkov. Puetz came out aggressive for the fourth round as Nemkov counter punches, but the aforementioned cut is opened on Puetz' eyebrow. After a short break in which the cageside doctor examined Puetz' cut, the action got fast and furious with Puetz having a decisive edge in the action.
Team Puetz celebrates after the decision was announced
The fight came down to the fifth and final round. The German closed the show strong, taking Nemkov down and unleashing a flurry of effective strikes. The fight was nearly stopped but Nemkov survived only to lose a split decision and his M-1 Challenge title.
In the co-feature, Konstantin "Lacplesis" Gluhov (27-14-0), of Latvia, and American heavyweight Kenny "Deuce" Garner (12-6-0) exchanged bombs through their action-packed rematch of a year ago, in which Gluhov won a controversial decision. The Latvian connected on powerful strikes and numerous leg kicks in the first-half of the opening round but Garner somehow managed to takedown his opponent. Gluhov got to his feet but was taken down again and the American used his ground-and-pound attack to his advantage in a fairly even first round. Garner took the second round, landing strong strikes from a distance and then had a successful takedown. A poke in the eye couldn't deter Garner in the third round. He threw some effective punches but Glukhov connected on several well-placed counters. The two warriors traded bombs right to the end as Gluhov won a unanimous but close three-round decision in an real fight.
Konstantin Gluhov (R) kicks Kenny Garner
Russian middleweight Anatoly Tokov (12-1-0) became the M-1 Global No. 1 rated middleweight contender by destroying Albert Duraev (4-3-0), knocking his countryman out cold in the first-round off a side mount.
Ukrainian featherweight Pavel Vitruk (11-0-0) kept his perfect record intact, punching his way to a first-round victory by submission against Brazilian Clayton Santos (0-1-0) in his pro debut. Santo started out by landing a couple of leg-kicks, then pulling guard with Vitruk working from the top. Santos, who after the fight was in great pain with a possible broken hand, was trapped in the corner and Vitruk kept punching until Santos tapped out.
Veteran lightweight Artiom Damkovsky (16-0-0), of Belarus, won a three-round unanimous decision over Russian Zulfikar Usmanov (5-3-0). The two dangerous strikers went toe-to-toe with Damkovsy winning round one. He came out strong for the second, using hard leg-kicks to control the action. Usmanov tried to attack his tired opponent but it was a case of too little, too late.
Russian welterweight Magomed Mustafaev (9-1-0) forced Andrei Koshkin (3-3-0) to tap out due to a heel-hook. The two skilled fighters went back and forth in an exciting opening round, going for submissions with great seeps, escapes and reverses. In the second, Koshkin takes top position but got caught in a heel-hook and tapped out as he grimaced in pain.
Azerbaijan heavyweight Zaur Hadjibabaev (1-0-0) won his pro debut when Yuriy Dobko (0-1-0), of Belarus, suffered a dislocated shoulder throwing a punch only 46-seconds into the opening round and was unable to continue.
Promising featherweight Tural Ragimov (8-1-0) turned in an impressive performance, punching out a game Aliyar Sarkerov (6-3-0) for a win by second round knockout. The two Russian fighters went for unsuccessful submissions by heel-hooks in the first round but Ragimov's ground-and-pound game was the difference. Ragimov picked up the action in the second, displaying strong strikes and sprawls and ending the fight with a barrage of punches from the top position.
Nickita "Piranha" Chistyakov (1-1-0) won his first pro fight by submission (rear naked choke) against pro-debuting Shamil Radzhabov (0-1-0) in a battle of young Russian heavyweights. Radzhabov had a slight advantage in round one but in the second, Chistyakov landed several good punches, took a side-mount position on the ground. He followed his coach's instructions, working elbows and knees to Radzhanov's body. "Piranha" used his momentum to get his opponent's back, ending the fight on a very deep rear-naked choke.
Ukrainian heavyweight Evgeni Gurayanov (6-1-0) stopped pro-debuting RussianKurban Ibragimov (0-1-0) by way of punches in the second round. Neither fighter wanted to go to the mat. Guryanov took the opening round because of his kicking and counter punching. Guryanov took the mount early in the second, blasting away with a series of punches, then took his back and continued landing powerful punches. Ibragimov didn't answer the referee's call and the fight was halted.
Up Next: M-1 Challenge 47 will be held April 4, 2-014 in Orenburg, Russia. M-1 Global middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev (11-2-0), of Russian, will defend his title in the main event against Russian challenger Andrei "White Shark" Semenov (34-9-0).
Full results and photo gallery below:
MAIN EVENT - M-1 CHALLENGE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Russia Stephan Puetz (9-3-0), Germany WDEC5 Viktor Nemkov (19-5-0),
(Puetz won the M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title)
CO-FEATURE - HEAVYWEIGHTS
Konstantin Gluhuv (27-14-0), Latvia WDEC3 Kenny Garner (12-6-0), USA
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Evgeni Guryanov (6-10-0), Ukraine WKO/TKO2 (2:07 - punches) Kurban Ibragimov (0-1-0), Russia
Zaur Hadjibabaev (1-0-0), Azerbaijan WKO/TKO1 (0:46 - shoulder injury) Yuriy Dobko (0-1-0), Belarus
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Anatoly Tokov (12-1-0), Russia WKO/TKO1 (3:21 - punches) Albert Duraev (4-3-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
Magmoed Mustafaev (9-1-0), Russia WSUB2 (0:39 - ankle lock) Andrei Koshkin (3-3-0), Russian
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Artiom Damkovsky (16-9-0), Belarus WDEC3 Zulfikar Usmanov (5-3-0), Russia
FEATHERWEIGHTS
Pavel Vitruk (11-0-0), Ukraine WSUB1 (3:33) Clayton Santon (0-1-0), Brazil
Tiral Ragimov (8-1-0), Russia WKO/TKO2 (1:37 - punches) Aliyar Sarkerov (12-5-0), Russia.
Nikita Chistayuakov (1-1-0), Russia WSUB2 (3:33 - rear naked choke) Shamil Radzhabov (0-1-0), Russia
Viktor Nemkov on top of Stephan Puetz
Konstantin Gluhov kicks Kenny Garner
Magomed Mustafaev pounds Andrei Koshkin
Andrei Koshkin screams before tapping out vs. Magomed Mustafaev
Kenny Garner (R) strikes Konstantin Gluhov (L)
Pavel Vitruk finishes off Clayton Santos
Aliyar Sarkerov has a hold of Tural Ragimov
Yuriy Dobko is in pain after dislocating his shoulder
Artiom Damkovsy attacks Zulfikar Usmanov
Nikita Chistyakov applies winning rear naked choke on Shamil Radzhabov
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