Sheppard Slated to Return at M-1 Challenge XXII
Sep 24, 2010
(PRESS RELEASE) -- After being forced to retire in his Selections
Finals bout against Jose Figueroa due to an unintentional groin
kick, George ‘Lights Out’ Sheppard has been invited back for an
undercard tilt at M-1 Challenge XXII slated for December 11th in
Atlantic City, New Jersey; the evening will crown the
organization’s first-ever light heavyweight and welterweight M-1
Challenge champions.
“Sheppard put forth a valiant effort and may have been on his way to winning the Selections lightweight championship fight,” says M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “We respect the NSAC’s decision in awarding the victory to Figueroa and know that the fans feel Sheppard is a talented athlete. We’re looking forward to seeing him back in the ring and driving through the contention system; a rematch with Figueroa should be in the cards down the road.”
Fighting out of the MMA Institute in Richmond Virginia, look for
Sheppard to bring his relentless state-champion wrestling pedigree
and hard-nosed thuggish fighting style to the matt versus a yet to
be named opponent as he looks to secure a future shot at the M-1
Global gold.
Championship and undercard bouts will be announced shortly
The M-1 Challenge events are positioned to drive the M-1 brand further into the US and European markets as event mega-spectaculars. October 28 in St. Petersburg, Russia is set for M-1 Challenge XXI: Guram vs. Grishin and M-1 Challenge XXII hits Atlantic City December 11th; February 2011 marks the first of six M-1Challenge events with M-1 Challenge XXIII where the newly crowned M-1 Champions will look to defend their titles against the top fighters in the contention system.
Fuelled with stacked undercards featuring new and returning warriors, the M-1 Challenge events will rival promotions for unsurpassed excitement, delivering live audiences and viewers worldwide the ultimate fan experience.
2011 marks a full calendar of mixed martial arts action as M-1 Global continues to build upon a highly successful Selections tournament. Being added next year are two full Selections tournaments featuring 12 live events across Eastern and Western Europe and the Americas; future superstars will begin mapping out the steps necessary to become M-1 Champions. These Selections tournaments will drive the depth of the contenders ladder in each weight class as warriors cross oceans to battle for the right to face M-1 Global champions at the live, mega-spectacular M-1 Challenge events scheduled throughout the year.
Go to www.M-1Global.com for additional information.
About M-1 Global:
Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles and affiliates in Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand stages its M-1 Selection and M-1 Challenge events worldwide and its co-produced Strikeforce events in the United States; captivating the live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups. 2011 marks a breakthrough year for this MMA powerhouse. With two Selections tournaments across Eastern & Western Europe and North America and a full calendar of Challenge events, M-1 Global’s World Champions will rank amongst the greatest in the sport and the contention system will fuel spectacular cards around the world.
M-1 Global’s greatest asset is the number one heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts history, Fedor Emelianenko. With daily coverage on all MMA-related websites in the world, and articles in Time Magazine, LA times and New York times, Fedor and M-1 Global make a lifetime match serving as the catalyst to grow MMA in the 21st century.
“Sheppard put forth a valiant effort and may have been on his way to winning the Selections lightweight championship fight,” says M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “We respect the NSAC’s decision in awarding the victory to Figueroa and know that the fans feel Sheppard is a talented athlete. We’re looking forward to seeing him back in the ring and driving through the contention system; a rematch with Figueroa should be in the cards down the road.”
Advertisement
Championship and undercard bouts will be announced shortly
In 2010, the M-1 Challenge underwent an overhaul from its original
‘team vs. team’ concept. Starting October 28th, teams will cease to
compete together; Selection tournament fighters will clash in
individual bouts to determine the first-ever M-1 Global Champions
and jockey for positioning on the contender’s ladder in each
respective weight class. From here, the contention system
flourishes as the Selection events feed more fighters into the
title scene.
The M-1 Challenge events are positioned to drive the M-1 brand further into the US and European markets as event mega-spectaculars. October 28 in St. Petersburg, Russia is set for M-1 Challenge XXI: Guram vs. Grishin and M-1 Challenge XXII hits Atlantic City December 11th; February 2011 marks the first of six M-1Challenge events with M-1 Challenge XXIII where the newly crowned M-1 Champions will look to defend their titles against the top fighters in the contention system.
Fuelled with stacked undercards featuring new and returning warriors, the M-1 Challenge events will rival promotions for unsurpassed excitement, delivering live audiences and viewers worldwide the ultimate fan experience.
2011 marks a full calendar of mixed martial arts action as M-1 Global continues to build upon a highly successful Selections tournament. Being added next year are two full Selections tournaments featuring 12 live events across Eastern and Western Europe and the Americas; future superstars will begin mapping out the steps necessary to become M-1 Champions. These Selections tournaments will drive the depth of the contenders ladder in each weight class as warriors cross oceans to battle for the right to face M-1 Global champions at the live, mega-spectacular M-1 Challenge events scheduled throughout the year.
Go to www.M-1Global.com for additional information.
About M-1 Global:
Founded in 1998, M-1 Global has established itself in the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA) as the premiere entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With offices in St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles and affiliates in Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo and Paris, the M-1 brand stages its M-1 Selection and M-1 Challenge events worldwide and its co-produced Strikeforce events in the United States; captivating the live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups. 2011 marks a breakthrough year for this MMA powerhouse. With two Selections tournaments across Eastern & Western Europe and North America and a full calendar of Challenge events, M-1 Global’s World Champions will rank amongst the greatest in the sport and the contention system will fuel spectacular cards around the world.
M-1 Global’s greatest asset is the number one heavyweight fighter in mixed martial arts history, Fedor Emelianenko. With daily coverage on all MMA-related websites in the world, and articles in Time Magazine, LA times and New York times, Fedor and M-1 Global make a lifetime match serving as the catalyst to grow MMA in the 21st century.
