M-1 Challenge 88: Ismagulov vs. Tutarauli - February 22 (OFFICIAL DISCUSSION)

M-1 Challenge 88
February 22, 2018
M-1 Arena   
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Main Card:
Damir Ismagulov (14-2) vs.        (18-4) Raul Tutarauli
Main Event |  Title Fight | Lightweight | 155 lbs (70 kg)
Movsar Evloev (8-0)       vs.     (10-2) Sergey Morozov
Co-Main Event |  Title Fight | Bantamweight | 135 lbs (61 Kg)
Stephan Puetz (15-3)      vs.    (2-0) Khadis Ibragimov
Main Card | Light Heavyweight | 205 lbs (93 Kg)
Aleksandr Osetrov (3-0)   vs.        (5-0) Sergey Klyuev
Main Card | Bantamweight | 135 lbs (61 Kg)

M-1 announce two title bouts for February 22nd M-1 Challenge 88. M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Damir Ismagulov of Russia will defend his title against the top contender Rauli Tutarauli of Georgia!

This fight must have happened earlier in 2017 at M-1 Challenge 85, but the Georgian fighter got injured in the contender bout and needed a few months for rehabilitation. The champion decided not to waste time without fights and defeated Rogerio Karranca from Brazil at that event.

Raul Tutarauli got his title shot after the victory over Vladimir Kanunnikov and now when he is healthy again, he is ready to give everything he has to win that belt. This is going to be the second fight of these athletes, they have already met in 2016 and that time Ismagulov won by the way of TKO in the third round. Since that event Ismagulov has become a champion and Tutarauli did not lose a single fight, so we are going to see a great rematch of two furious fighters!

Also, M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion Movsar Evloev of Russia will defend his title against contender of Kazakhstan Sergey Morozov!

This is going to be the first title defense for the undefeated champion Movsar Evloev. Last year he won the interim belt, after that met the champion and defeated him as well! It is known that it’s hard to win the title and even harder to defend it, but Evloev knows that for sure and will be 100% ready!

Sergey Morozov won 4 of his last 5 bouts and in the last fight knocked out his opponent with huge ground and pound! Both fighters are absolutely universal and can be successful at every aspect of the game, so this is going to be an unpredictable title bout, which can end at any moment!

Two title fights. Card is looking good.

M-1 Challenge 88: Stephan Püetz is set to fight against Giga Kukhalashvili.

These 2 fighters were previously set to fight at M-1 Challenge 85 event in Moscow, but Püetz got injured. This time they are going to finally meet in the Rage at M-1 Challenge 88!

Stephan Puetz (15-3) is one of the most famous M-1 Global fighters. T-800 used to be M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion and now after he lost the title, he is extremely motivated and ready for a comeback!

His opponent Giga Kukhalashvili (11-3) is known as a brutal puncher. In his debut fight in M-1 Global Kukhalashvili knocked out his opponent in just 59 seconds! After that Giga fought against Sebastian Heil who replaced injured Puetz and the Georgian fighter needed just 36 seconds to finish his opponent. The fight against ex-champion is a great opportunity to come closer to the title fight!

Hope M-1 hangs on these champions.