Vadim Finkelstein: We have big plans for 2014

Dear Vadim thank you for agreeing on the interview, please tell us how many tournaments you plan to have in 2014?

We have big plans both for M-1 Global and for the Russian Union of MMA and the World Association of WMMA. We're going to have events for M-1 Challenge, the Russian Championship and Asian Championship in Kazakhstan. The World Cup we are planning for Belarus or in Ukraine.

Where and when will be the first M-1 Challenge?

We wanted to start in February but this year, as you well know, is the Winter Olympics so we will start in March at the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. M-1 Challenge 45 event will be in St. Petersburg on March 14 and April 4 will hold the M-1 Challenge 46 in Orenburg.

Will M-1 sign new star fighters?

Of course! Our matchmakers are constantly searching for new talent.  We now have a gorgeous heavyweight division, it is rightly considered the second most powerful in the World and we try to bring all the other weight categories up to this level.

Will you change the format of the events?

The most important thing in M-1 Challenge tournaments  is spectacular and interesting fights. We focus on high-level athletes and competitive spectacular fights with equal chances.

Will you have a M-1 Grand Prix in 2014 and if so in what weight class?

It could be in our plans but the weight category and the launch date has not yet been discussed.

How many countries are now included in WMMAA?

I did not expect much progress in the first year immediately but the first WMMAA had 36 countries in the first official world championship. We planned very serious work to further advance in the World with the championship Cup of South America. I expect that the next World Cup we will have 60 countries.

mixfight.ru

The Cold war is still on

M-1 HW Grand Prix 2014 Quarterfinals

Sergei Kharitonov vs Aleksander Emelianenko
Damian Grabowski vs Satoshi Ishii
Marcin Tybura vs Magomed Malikov
Andrei Arlovski vs Denis Smoldarev

  

KSW wrote:

I know many of you here wish you were the submissive naked laying in the snow guy offering himself up to the greatness that is the black & white GOATs.


 :Vlad:

Dagwood  

lol the pose that guy is in hahahaha

KSW wrote:

Is that Wes sims?

KSW wrote:M-1 HW Grand Prix 2014 Quarterfinals

Sergei Kharitonov vs Aleksander Emelianenko
Damian Grabowski vs Satoshi Ishii
Marcin Tybura vs Magomed Malikov
Andrei Arlovski vs Denis Smoldarev

  

That would be a dream tournament.

I hope this "big year" doesn't mean passing more talent to the UFC

PRIDE4EVER wrote:I hope this "big year" doesn't mean passing more talent to the UFC

or Co-Promoting with ZUFFA to host shows in Russia

RussianTopTeam wrote:

PRIDE4EVER wrote:I hope this "big year" doesn't mean passing more talent to the UFC

or Co-Promoting with ZUFFA to host shows in Russia

touche

Very sweet.

Vadim is a very savvy and smart businessman. I'm sure whatever he is planning will be great.

RussianTopTeam wrote:

PRIDE4EVER wrote:I hope this "big year" doesn't mean passing more talent to the UFC

or Co-Promoting with ZUFFA to host shows in Russia

It would be good if they co-promoted and UFC had to use the M-1 ring and rules.

KSW wrote:

RussianTopTeam wrote:

PRIDE4EVER wrote:I hope this "big year" doesn't mean passing more talent to the UFC

or Co-Promoting with ZUFFA to host shows in Russia

It would be good if they co-promoted and UFC had to use the M-1 ring and rules.

  

CDF47 wrote:

KSW wrote:M-1 HW Grand Prix 2014 Quarterfinals

Sergei Kharitonov vs Aleksander Emelianenko
Damian Grabowski vs Satoshi Ishii
Marcin Tybura vs Magomed Malikov
Andrei Arlovski vs Denis Smoldarev

  

That would be a dream tournament.

Agreed. If Sergei trained is ass off, I'd probably pick him. But Arlovski has been looking good, Grabowski is always solid, and Ishii despite his fights looking like shit manages to grind out wins. I'd be super-hyped for that type of GP, PRIDE style.