Magalhaes Takes Light Heavyweight Title with an Incredible Sub of the Night Honor

(PRESS RELEASE) -- M-1 Global’s newly crowned Light Heavyweight Champion, decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, Vinny ‘Pezao’ Magalhaes (8-5) revealed his credentials last Thursday night in his title bout versus Viktor Nemkov (10-3) at M-1 Challenge XXV. In a back and forth battle that spanned into the early portion of the third round, Magalhaes finally threw down the pocket aces hand he was holding and locked in a rare Mounted Gogoplata/Neck Crank hybrid, forcing Nemkov to tap at the 1:42 mark. With the win, Magalhaes improves his current win streak to four and sports the hardware identifying him as the King of the 205-pound division.

As the evening’s co-main event inside the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russian, both fighters took to the ring in front of a capacity crowd with the crowd marking the 24 year old Nemkov as the hometown favourite. In a back-and-forth first round, the pair jostled to assert and impose their game plans with evenly matched striking but from the first instance on the canvas, it was clear that Magalhaes brought far superior ground skills, working through seamless submission attempts from a textbook rubber guard.

Nemkov opened the second frame with a reinvented confidence, landing precise outside leg kicks and raining a tactical barrage from inside Magalhaes’ guard; this swing in momentum was short lived as Magalhaes worked confidently off his back and reversed to top position and answered Nemkov’s barrage with a ground and pound of his own.

Magalhaes opened the third and deciding round poised and eager to seize the win but ate a shot down the pipes which scored Nemkov a knock-down. Stunned momentarily, Magalhaes shook off the cobwebs and quickly worked into an offensive position on the ground, looking to drive to his shin into Nemkov’s trachea while wrenching on his opponent’s head. After briefly adjusting position to tighten up, Magalhaes sunk his shin in deeper and cranked Nemkov’s neck one last time; with no escape from the ‘Vinnyplata’, Nemkov capitulated, crowning the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace M-1 Global’s Light Heavyweight champ.

With the win, Magalhaes continues to showcase his evolution with each round clocked, paving the way for this world-class BJJ expert to become an MMA superstar. Currently training and teaching at the TapouT Training Center in Las Vegas, Magalhaes is determined fighter, dedicated to improving his skills in Wrestling, Muay Thai and Boxing; with a versatile arsenal, Magalhaes has every opportunity to become one of the world’s best light heavyweight fighters and is ready to cement himself as the reigning champion of M-1 Global’s 205-pound division.

Europe’s leading mixed martial arts promotion’s next scheduled M-1 Challenge event marks their second card held in the United States. M-1 Challenge XXVI goes down Friday July 8th and is headlined with two title fights; undefeated Georgian powerhouse, Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) puts his heavyweight title on the line against decorated American wrestler, Pat Bennett (4-2) while Lightweight Champion, Jose Figueroa (10-4) makes his first title defense against top-contender, Daniel Weichel (26-7).

With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.

2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

For additional information, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page.

Link to Magalhaes vs. Nemkov: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkZ3_JR-o60