M-1 Challenge 73: Tokov vs Emeev - December 9 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

M-1 Challenge 73
December 9, 2016
Crocus City Hall   
Nazran, Russia

Main Card:
Ramazan Emeev (14-3)          vs.                (24-2) Anatoly Tokov
Main Event |  Title Fight | Mddleweight | 185 lbs (84 Kg)
Ivan Buchinger (31-4)             vs.            (6-0) Magomed Idrisov
Co-Main Event |  Title Fight  | Featherweight | 145 lbs (66 Kg)
Lee Morrison (14-7)                 vs.                (5-0) Movsar Evloev
Main Card  | Featherweight | 145 lbs (66 Kg)
Josh Rettinghouse(13-4)          vs.              (6-1) Sergey Morozov
Main Card | Featherweight | 145 lbs (66 Kg)

M-1 champion Ramazan Emeev will face former ACB champion Anatoly Tokov in the main event of M-1 Challenge 73, December 9.

Anatoly Tokov (24-1) is a former ACB middleweight champion who has become a free agent this week. He is one of the most spectacular and prominent MMA fighters in Russia and Europe. He is leading 17 fights winning streak and hasn't lost a fight since 2011. He is a dangerous striker with a solid parter skills. 14 out of 24 his wins were held via KO or TKO.

Ramazan Emeev (14-3) is a reigning M-1 Middleweight champion who currently hold 19th place in the World Middleweight rankings according to FightMatrix.com. He is a solid striker with a fiersome knockout power. Being a basic wrestler Ramazan can takedown and ragdoll almost any type of the opponent.

"The fight between Ramazan Emeev and Anatoly Tokov is the most anticipated fight in Russian MMA." - says M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein, "Both Tokov and Emeev are fighters of the elite level not only in Russia, but in the World. This fight is held to achieve our main goal: to make the most spectacular match-ups between the strongest MMA fighters of our time".

Tokov fighting for the M-1 belt. Big fight. I hope he takes it.

Magomed Idrisov vs Ivan Buchinger title fight is set for M-1 Challenge 73, Dec 9.

Magomed Idrisov (6-0) is a prominent M-1 featherweight with a formidable row of defeated opponents, including Max Coga and current M-1 Lightweight Champion Alexander Butenko (back in 2013 when he wasn't M-1 champioon yet). Idrisov represents legendary "Gorets" ("Highlander") fight club, the homebase of notable MMA fighters: Rashid Magomedov, Ruslan Magomedov, Ramazan Emeev, Magomed Sultanakhmedov and others. He is a well-rounded fighter with an incredible striking, coming from his Whu-Shu Sanda background: Magomed is the Champion of Russia on this discipline. Magomed Idrisov posesses all the successful MMA fighter needs: well-rounded basics, excellent endurance and conditions both with a great striking and parter game. He had never lost a fight in professional MMA arena. The only loss came in his first amateur fight back in 2012.

Ivan "Buki" Buchinger (31-4) also known as "Menace of Russians" among local fighters is a reigning M-1 featherweight champion out of Team MMA Spirit, Germany - one of the best MMA teams in Europe. Buchinger is leading a stunning 10 fights winning streak. His last career defeat happened four years ago when he met Conor McGregor in a Cage Warriors-51 event back in 2012. Since then Ivan destroyed every single of his opponent, including Tural Ragimov, Aliyar Sarkerov, Mikhail Korobkov and even M-1 Lighweight Champion Mansour Barnaoui (Barnaoui lost his belt in May 2016 due to his contract violation). Buchinger's main caliber is a ground game where he achieved extremely high level of fighting skill. He can submit his opponents in hundred of different ways and knows most of the existing grappling moves. Likewise his teammates from MMA Spirit, Ivan Buchinger posesses a great endurance and stamina, he doesn't get tired and never stops. His stiking skills allow him to knock out his opponents in stand-up without much efforts. Being a N19 in FightMatrix.com World Featherweight Rankings, Ivan Buchinger can be considered as the TOP MMA fighter in his weight class among all European and Russian athlets.

The fight between Magomed Idrisov and Ivan Buchinger will become a co-main event of M-1 Challenge 73 show, that is set for December 9th, Ingushetia, Russia. The main event is going to be a superfight between two best Middleweights of Russia: Anatoly Tokov (former ACB league champ) vs Ramazan Emeev (reigning M-1 middleweight champion). The fight card is still being formed and updated.

Lee "American Bulldog" Morrison will fight Movsar Evloev on M-1 Challenge 73 event, December 9, Russia.

Lee Morrison (15-7) is a prominent MMA fighter from Okanogan (WA) USA. He faced the TOP featherweight opposition in Russia and demonstrated exceptional fighting skills. Being the acknowledged submission master, Morrison posesses extreme danger when the game comes to grappling. Lee Morrison defeated current M-1 Bantamweight champion Pavel Vitruk (when he was still a featherweight) a year ago. Another notable feature of Morrison's career in M-1 is that when he was losing to his opponents, he did it only in a very close and intense fights. Eventually Lee's team decided to go down the weight-class. Therefore the current fight will be held in a catchweight - 63,5kg.

Movsar Evloev (5-0) is a young and prospective fighter from the Republic of Ingushetia, Russia. He is a solid grappler who tends to finish his opponents on the ground. The prospective of fighting such an experienced master as Lee Morrison opens a great opportunity for Evloev. The only question is: will he be able to handle such a dangerous opposition?

Sergey Morozov (6-2) vs Josh Rettinghouse (13-4) will fight each other on M-1 Challenge 73 event, December 9

Josh "The Finisher" Rettinghouse (13-4) is a 26-years-old prospect bantamweight fighter from Spokane (WA), United States. Rettinghouse is the "King of the Cage" champion who currently leads a 3 fight winning streak. Being a submission master with prominent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background, he never suffered a loss via KO or TKO. Josh Rettinghouse started his M-1 Challenge run from finishing Vadim Zhlobich at M-1 Challenge 66 event in May 2016. The second win in a row at M-1 event can turn "The Finisher" into a legit M-1 Bantamweight Title contender and grant him a shot at current champion Pavel Vitruk.

Sergey Morozov (6-2) is a solid knockout artist from the Republic of Kazakhstan. He showed an incredibly spectacular fight with Pavel Vitruk in February of 2016, eventually losing that fight via decision. Nevertheless Morozov held another two wins in a row, claiming his high striking level and champion's ambitions. Sergey Morozov is a well-rounded fighter who tends to outstrike his opponents in stand-up. He is one of those guys who are good in every aspect of the game, so it's difficult to see a single weakness in his skillset.

M-1 Challenge 73 weigh-in Video:


M-1 Challenge 73 animated promo:

Good fight with Tokov/Emeev tomorrow. Might be able to catch it live.