M-1 Challenge 52 in Russia - Buchinger new featherweight champ

(PRESS RELEASE) -- INGUSHETIA, RUSSIA (October 17, 2014) -- Slovakian MMA technician Ivan Buchinger (28-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 16 SUB) captured the vacant M-1 Challenge featherweight title by stopping Azerbaijan striker Tural Ragimov (9-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) at his own game in tonight's M-1 Challenge 52: Battle of Narts main event at Summer Amphiteatre Magas in Ingushetia, Russia.

M-1 Challenge 52: Battle of Narts, featuring red-hot challengers Buchinger and Ragimov,both unbeaten in a pair of M-1 Challenge bouts apiece, aired lived on www.M1Global.TV.

Buchinger was riding a six-fight win streak into his title fight, including the last two against Mikhail Malyutin (SUB1 - rear naked choke) and Sergei Golyaev (DEC3), respectively, this past August in M-1 Challenge 50 and in M-1 Challenge 47 last April.

Ragimov started the action having won his last five fights, including the last two versus and Lee Morrison (SUB1 - arm-bar) and Aliyar Sarkerov (TKO2 - punches), respectively, this past June in M-1 Challenge 49 and last March in M-1 Challenge 46.

Russian welterweight Murad "The Hunter" Abdullayev (12-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) lived up to his nickname, stalking his more experienced opponent Daniel "The Gladiator" Tabera (18-6-3, 4 KO/TKO, 6 SUB), of Spain. A strong flurry of punches halted the action in the second round.

Belarussian lightweight Artiom Damkovsky (18-9-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) won a three-round decision over his Russian opponent, Said Khaililov (12-12-0, 8 KO/TKO/ 2 SUB), as did Rustam Gadzhiev (4-2-0, 2 KO/TKO, 0 SUB) against Ingiskhan Ozdoev in a battle between Russian welterweights.

Russian middleweight Magomed Mutaev (5-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) upset previously undefeated Pole, Bartosz "Hulk" Chyrel (4-1-1, 4 SUB), by way of a third-round stoppage via punches.

Unbeaten Russian heavyweight Murad Ismailov (4-0-0, 4 KO/TKO) kept his perfect record intact, taming Vladimir "White Lion" Mishchenko (7-7-0, 7 SUB), of Ukraine, with a first-round knockout by punches to close the main event.

In preliminary bouts, Kazakh welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov (1-0-0, 1 KO/TKO) used a triangle choke in his successful professional debut, defeating hometown favorite Adam Tsurov (1-1-0, 1 SUB) in the opening round.

In a pair of lightweight matches, Russian prospect Khamzat Dalgiev (1-1-0, 1 SUB) finished off Dmitry Ermolaev (2-2-0, 2 SUB), of Kazakhstan, with a guillotine choke in the second round, while Arubakar Mestoev (1-0-0) won a two-round decision over Marat Tokhtamushev (0-1-0) in pro debuts for both Russians. Another lightweight fight between two Russians, Zurab Betergaraev (1-0-1, 1 KO/TKO) and Rustam Khasanov (5-2-0, 4 KO/TKO. 1 SUB), ended in a "no contest" due to an accidental clash of heads.

MAIN CARD

HEAVYWEIGHTS:

Murad Izmailov (4-0-0), RussiaWKO/TKO1 (punches - 1:09) Vladimir Mishchenko (7-7-0), Ukraine

MIDDLEWEIGHTS:

Magomed Mutaev (5-2-0), Russia WKO/TKO3 (punches) Bartosz Chyrek (4-1-0), Poland

WELTERWEIGHTS:

Murad Abdullayev (12-1-0), Russia WKO/TKO2 (punches) Daniel Tabera (18-6-3), Spain

Rustam Gadzhiev (4-2-0), Russia WDEC3 Ingiskhan Ozdoev (1-1-0, Russia

CATCHWEIGHT (160 lbs.):

Artiom Damkovsky (18-9-0), Belarus WDEC3 Said Khaililov (12-12-0), Russia

FEATHERWEIGHTS:

Ivan Buchinger (28-4-0), Slovakia WKO/TKO4 (punches) Tural Ragimov (9-2-0), Azerbaijan

(Buchinger won vacant M-1 Challenge Featherweight title)

PRELIMINARY CARD

WELTERWEIGHTS:

Shavkat Rakhmonov (1-0-0), Kazakhstan WSUB1 (Triangle Choke) Adam Tsurov (1-1-0), Russia

LIGHTWEIGHTS:

Rustam Khasanov (5-2-0), Russia No Contest Zurab Betergaraev (1-0-1, Russia

Khamzat Dalgiev (1-1-0), Russia WSUB2 (Guillotine Choke) Dmitry Ermolaev (2-2-0), Kazakhstan

Murat Tokhtamyshev (1-0-0), Russia WDEC2 Abubakar Mestoev (0-1-0), Russia

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