M-1 Challenge 68: Vasilevsky vs. Shlemenko 2 / Volkov vs. Vegh- June 16 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

M-1 CHALLENGE 68
June 16, 2016
Yubileyny Sports Palace   
St. Petersburg, Russia

Main Card:
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (28-4)      vs.   (52-9) Alexander Shlemenko
Main Event | Middleweight | 185 lbs (84 kg)
Alexander Volkov (25-6)              vs.                  (29-6) Attila Vegh
Co-Main Event |   Title Fight | Heavyweight | 265 lbs (120 kg)
Valery Myasnikov (10-1)              vs.      (18-9) Enoc Solves Torres
Main Card | Middleweight | 185 lbs (84 kg)
Abukar Yandiev (7-1)                   vs.     (12-6) Tony Christodoulou
Main Card | Lightweight | 155 lbs (70 kg)

M-1 Gran Prix 2016 finals is set on June 16th, Yubileyny Sports Palace, St. Petersburg. The Gran Prix final fight between Alexander Shlemenko and Ramazan Emeev will become the headline of M-1 Challenge 68 event. M-1 Global Management decided to reset the initially announced date from June 17th to 16th, to make it easier for the MMA fans and media, who would like to attend both big events in the same city.

M-1 Challenge 68 (including M-1 Gran Prix final) is still kept as the official part of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2016. Besides M-1 Gran Prix final fight between Alexander Shlemenko and Ramazan Emeev, the MMA fans will also watch the M-1 Championship title fight as well as many spectacular performances during the event.

Alexander "Drago" Volkov (25-6) vs Atilla Vegh (29-6-2) title fight is also added to the card.

Atilla Vegh (29-6-2), fighting out of MMA Spirit team, Germany. He recently changed the weight-class and now will take a title shot at M-1 Challenge 68 event, June 16th. Atilla is a former Bellator lightheavyweight champion, who got 9 fights winning streak before losing in a rematch to Emmanuel Newton with a controversial split decision. Being 30 years old heavyweight and former champion, Vegh is one of the best acting heavyweights, available for a fight in Europe.
 
Alexander Volkov (25-6) is a reigning M-1 Heavyweight champion. He got the belt defeating Denis Smoldarev at M-1 Challenge 64 event. Now Drago has to make his first title defence.

Excellent title fights coming up. Really looking forward to Emeev/Shlemenko.

Unfortunately M-1 Middleweight Champion Ramazan Emeev, who was scheduled to fight Alexander Shlemenko at M-1 Middleweight Gran Prix Finals in the main event of M-1 Challenge 68 event on June 16th got injured. He torn the elbow ligament and won't be able to fight against Alexander Shlemenko.
 
M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein commented the situation:
 
"This is a hard news for our organisation. There's only 1 month left before the tournament and we are losing one of the main event fighters. It was the most anticipated fight that fans were waiting for. We still have Alexander Volkov vs Attila Vegh heavyweight title fight, and now we will look for the opportunities to let fans watch Alexander Shlemenko's fight in St. Petersburg. M-1 Global has been operating under the heavy pressure recently, but nevertheless we make the great events for our fans. That's why we will do everything we can now to keep our fans happy

Kingfedor wrote:
Unfortunately M-1 Middleweight Champion Ramazan Emeev, who was scheduled to fight Alexander Shlemenko at M-1 Middleweight Gran Prix Finals in the main event of M-1 Challenge 68 event on June 16th got injured. He torn the elbow ligament and won't be able to fight against Alexander Shlemenko.
 
M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein commented the situation:
 
"This is a hard news for our organisation. There's only 1 month left before the tournament and we are losing one of the main event fighters. It was the most anticipated fight that fans were waiting for. We still have Alexander Volkov vs Attila Vegh heavyweight title fight, and now we will look for the opportunities to let fans watch Alexander Shlemenko's fight in St. Petersburg. M-1 Global has been operating under the heavy pressure recently, but nevertheless we make the great events for our fans. That's why we will do everything we can now to keep our fans happy

Another big fight off? Was looking forward to that one. Hope they re-schedule soon.

After Ramazan Emeev who had initially to fight Shlemenko in finals got injured, M-1 matchmakers had to find a quick substitute. We were obliged to make this event in the middle of June with no possibility to postpone it.
 
As the 1st fight between Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Alexander Shlemenko was extremely close and spectacular, M-1 decided to arrange a rematch between those fighters at M-1 Gran Prix Finals on June 16th (M-1 Challenge 68 event).
 
Both Vasilevskiy and Shlemenko agreed with the match-up. Their rematch officially becomes the headliner of M-1 Challenge 68 - the most anticipated fighting event of the Summer.
 
This is the first fight between Alexander Shlemenko and Slava Vasilevskiy that took place at M-1 Challenge 64 back in February 2016:

Kingfedor wrote:
After Ramazan Emeev who had initially to fight Shlemenko in finals got injured, M-1 matchmakers had to find a quick substitute. We were obliged to make this event in the middle of June with no possibility to postpone it.
 
As the 1st fight between Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Alexander Shlemenko was extremely close and spectacular, M-1 decided to arrange a rematch between those fighters at M-1 Gran Prix Finals on June 16th (M-1 Challenge 68 event).
 
Both Vasilevskiy and Shlemenko agreed with the match-up. Their rematch officially becomes the headliner of M-1 Challenge 68 - the most anticipated fighting event of the Summer.
 
This is the first fight between Alexander Shlemenko and Slava Vasilevskiy that took place at M-1 Challenge 64 back in February 2016:

They got a real good replacement for the rematch. Hope Shelemenko wins and we get to see the other fight soon.

Winner should fight Emeev.

Winner vs. Emeev is definitely the fight to make.

Big fights coming up tomorrow in M-1

Did every promotion decide to have events in the same three day span?

^Yeah, seems like it