(PRESS RELEASE) -- It's a classic rivalry that has transcended into nearly every sport: The United States vs. Russia. And on Friday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET on HDNet (www.HDNetFights.com) that rivalry will be rekindled when Team USA West faces Fedor Emelianenko's Team Russia Imperial during the 2009 "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" (www.M-1Global.com).

Emanating from Seoul, South Korea, the two Group B rivals will jockey for position as USA West and Russia Imperial attempt a semifinal playoff berth.

Featured on USA West is a deep pool of talent that includes Strikeforce-contracted heavyweight Shane del Rosario, former EliteXC middleweight Giva Santana, one-time Affliction-veteran welterweight Fabio "Negao" Nascimento, and undefeated lightweight prospect Dave Jansen in what will be his final M-1 Challenge bout before his October debut in the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion.

Standing in USA West's way of a perfect season is a young Team Imperial team that is laden with the next generation of talented Russian fight prospects. Chosen to represent Imperial are lightweight Amirkhan Mazihov, welterweight Marat Ilaev, middleweight Radmir Gabdullin, light heavyweight Viktor Nemkov, and heavyweight Maksim Grishin.

Friday's episode of the M-1 Challenge on HDNet will feature an action-packed hour of fantastic knockouts and submissions with Del Rosario looking to build on his perfect 6-0 professional MMA record against Grishin and Santana gunning for the eleventh armbar submission victory of his career.

Will the young Russians be able to knock off their more experienced American counterparts? Or will USA West continue its path of dominance in the '09 M-1 Challenge?

Remember to tune in to the M-1 Challenge on HDNet each and every Friday at 8 p.m. ET and to get the latest news and information surrounding M-1 at www.M-1Global.com.

ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL AND THE "M-1 CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY AFFLICTION:"

M-1 Global (www.M-1Global.com) has been one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Karl Amoussou, Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Daisuke Nakamura, Keith Jardine, Alistair Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef, Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, and Chalid Arrab, to name a few.

Billed as the "World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts," the M-1 Challenge is a full season of MMA events sponsored by partner Affliction that showcases some of the best up and coming MMA fighters in the world. Broadcast to over 80 countries around the world, including HDNet in the United States, the M-1 Challenge pits teams of five fighters representing their respective countries against each other for international bragging rights and the title of M-1 Challenge Champions.

The "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" affords MMA prospects all over the world an opportunity to test their skills, gain valuable experience at the international level, and become future stars in the sport of MMA. Fighters who succeed on the M-1 Challenge's international breeding ground will earn the opportunity to participate in major MMA events presented by M-1 Global and their promotional partners such as Affliction Entertainment.