M-1 Challenge 74: Yusupov vs. Puetz - February 18 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

M-1 Challenge 74
February 18, 2017
Yubileyny Sports Palace  
St. Petersburg, Russia

Main Card:
Rashid Yusupov (6-0)            vs.    (14-2) Stephan Puetz
Main Event |  Title Fight | Light Heavyweight | 205 lbs (93 Kg)
Alexander Butenko (42-11)    vs.    (8-1) Abukar Yandiev
Co-Main Event |  Title Fight | Lightweight | 155 lbs (70 Kg)


M-1 Light Heavyweight title fight between Rashid Yusupov and Stephan Puetz will headline M-1 Challenge 74 on February 18, 2017.

Rashid Yusupov (6-0) is an undefeated MMA fighter and M-1 Global reigning lightheavyweight champion out of fight club "Gorets" ("Highlander"), Dagestan, Russia. He defeated Viktor Nemkov in May 2016 and took the Championship. Therefore his fight with Stephan Puetz will become Yusupov's first title defence.

Stephan "T-800" Puetz (15-2) is a former M-1 Global Lightheavyweight Champion and N26 in FightMatrix.com rankings among the World Lighthevavyweight fighters, representing team MMA Spirit, Frankfurt, Germany. He defeated his two recent M-1 opponents in a row - Andrey Seledtsov and Marcus Vinicius Lopes after suffering a majority decision loss to Viktor Nemkov in December of 2015.

Alexander Butenko vs Abukar Yandiev Lighweight Title fight was officially added to M-1 Challenge 74

Abukar Yandiev (8-1) is one of the most hyped MMA fighters in Russia nowadays. He is a powerful basic wrestler with a solid Judo background. Coming out of Ingushetia, Russia, he represents himself a well-rounded fighter with an imaginable physical power, which allows him literally ragdoll his opponents in fight. With his ability to finish the fights in the opening round and having a huge fan-base in his homeland country, Abukar Yandiev is a soon-to-be MMA star.

Alexander Butenko (42-11-2) is a reigning M-1 Global Lightweight champion with a notable fighting experience. Fighting out of "FightSpirit" Team, Butenko is famous for his ability to cut down 23kg to make a lighweight limit of 70kg before the fight. He possesses a great physical power and outstanding wrestling-grappling skills, proving his nickname "Iron Capture" in almost each fight. He tends to outwrestle his opponents and finish them with a mean submission moves on the ground. In addition it comes his great physical endurance, strenght and conditions of the top tier.