The 2009 M-1 Challenge Season was the second season of the M-1 Challenge series presented by M-1 Global

M-1 Global

M-1 Global is the mixed martial arts promotion based in Russia - The Netherlands which organizes between 40 and 50 competitions per year...

. It started on February 21, 2009 and concluded on December 3, 2009. 16 teams from around the world competed in the 2009 M-1 Challenge Season, up from the 9 teams that competed in 2008. The teams typically featured top MMA prospects. The Season was won by the Russian Legion team.

Background

M-1 Challenge is a team-based competition organized with a series of events held in different places around the world where MMA clubs compete against each other. The teams consist of five fighters, one in each of the five major MMA weight classes- Lightweight

Lightweight (MMA)

The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...

, Welterweight

Welterweight (MMA)

The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...

, Middleweight

Middleweight (MMA)

The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...

, Light Heavyweight

Light Heavyweight (MMA)

The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....

 and Heavyweight

Heavyweight (MMA)

The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally groups fighters between .Although many ambiguities exist within the lower weight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the Heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform...

.

Final standings

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Group A
! team record
! overall record
|-
| x-  England
| 2-1
| 10-5
|-
|   Japan
| 2-1
| 8-7
|-
|   France
| 1-2
| 8-7
|-
|   Spain
| 1-2
| 4-11
|-
|-{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Group B
! team record
! overall record
|-
| x-  USA West
| 3-0
| 13-2
|-
|   Brazil
| 2-1
| 10-5
|-
|   South Korea
| 1-2
| 5-10
|-
|   Imperial Team
| 0-3
| 2-13
|-
|-{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Group C
! team record
! overall record
|-
| x-  USA East
| 2-1
| 10-5
|-
|   Finland
| 2-1
| 10-5
|-
|   Benelux
| 1-2
| 6-9
|-
|   Bulgaria
| 1-2
| 4-11
|-
|-{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Group D
! team record
! overall record
|-
| x-  Russian Legion
| 3-0
| 13-2
|-
|   Germany
| 2-1
| 10-5
|-
| World Team
| 1-2
| 6-9
|-
|   Turkey
| 0-3
| 1-14
|-
|}
x-clinched group title and semifinal playoff berth

Season Results

21 February 2009 (Seattle, USA)

  Finland vs.   Benelux (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Danny van Bergen
  Danny van Bergen
  Danny van Bergen is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, van Bergen has spent time in KSW, Shooto and M-1 Global.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   Juha-Pekka Vainikainen via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Janne Tulirinta
  Janne Tulirinta
  Janne Tulirinta is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Tulirinta has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Tommy Depret via submission (brabo choke) at 2:30 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Lucio Linhares
  Lucio Linhares
  Lucio Linhares is a Brazilian-Finnish professional mixed martial artist and M-1 Global veteran who has fought for Shooto. Linhares most notable win is over former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Sean Salmon. Linhares is a former member of the M-1 Mixfight Team Finland...
  
   defeats   Kamil Uygun via submission (armbar) at 1:22 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Marcus Vänttinen
  Marcus Vänttinen
  Marcus Vänttinen is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Vänttinen has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global....
  
   defeats   Jason Jones
  Jason Jones (fighter)
  Jason Jones is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights for United Glory.-MMA career:Jones made his professional MMA debut in May 2004 against Matt Hershberger, where he won by guillotine choke in just 21 seconds...
  
   by unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Toni Valtonen defeats   Sander Duyvis via TKO (punches) at 0:18 of Round 1.

  South Korea vs.   The Imperial Team (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Do Hyung Kim defeats   Mikhail Malutin via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Myung Ho Bae defeats   Erik Oganov via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:12 of Round 2.
• Middleweight bout:   Dmitri Samoylov defeats   Hyun Gyu Lim via unanimous decision.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Jae Young Kim defeats   Mikhail Zayats
  Mikhail Zayats
  Mikhail Zayats is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweigh division. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Zayats mostly competed in his native Russia, where he is an M-1 Global veteran....
  
   via TKO (head kick) at 4:02 of Round 2.
• Heavyweight bout:   Alexey Oleinik
  Alexey Oleinik
  Alexey Oleinik is a Ukrainian-Russian mixed martial artist who is a M-1 Global veteran and has fought for Bellator Fighting Championships, Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, BodogFight and YAMMA Pit Fighting.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Sang Soo Lee
  Sang Soo Lee
  Lee Sang-Soo , often anglicised to Sang Soo-Lee, is a South Korean Sambo practitioner, and mixed martial artist. A rising Korean heavyweight fighter, Sang Soo Lee began his career on a 5-0 win streak mostly in the Spirit MC league in South Korea.Lee's participation in Sambo reflects a growing...
  
   via submission (ezekiel choke) at 4:27 of Round 2.

  USA West vs.   Brazil (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Dave Jansen
  Dave Jansen
  David Hendrik Jansen is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He defeated Richard Crunkilton via unanimous decision at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009....
  
   defeats   Flavio Roberto Alvaro via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Eduardo Pamplona
  Eduardo Pamplona
  Eduardo Pamplona is Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for International Fight League, M-1 Global, Shooto, and Pancrase. Eduardo holds a notable win over former PRIDE FC contender Jose Landi-Jons.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   Dylan Clay via TKO (punches) at 2:48 of Round 3.
• Middleweight bout:   Reggie Orr defeats   Juliano Cioffi Belgine via split decision.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Raphael Davis defeats   Jair Goncalves Junior via TKO (punches) at 4:05 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Jose Edson dos Santos Franca defeats   Carl Seumanutafa
  Carl Seumanutafa
  Carl Seumanutafa is a Samoan Heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has fought in a number of promotions including EliteXC, M-1 Global and Strikeforce.-Biography and career:...
  
   via split decision.

28 March 2009 (Bourgas, Bulgaria)

 USA East vs.  Bulgaria (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Renato Migliaccio
  Renato Migliaccio
  Renato Migliaccio is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and grappler who has fought for M-1 Global, RINGS and King of the Cage promotions. Renato has competed in the ADCC, Grapplers Quest, and the 2007 Pan American Games...
  
   defeats  Yanko Yanev via submission (armbar) at 4:45 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Steve Carl
  Steve Carl
  Steve Carl is an American mixed martial artist. He competes in the welterweight division. As an Iraq War veteran, Carl competes in MMA while he is home from active duty.-Early career:Carl made his professional MMA debut in November 2005...
  
    defeats   Ivan Ivanov via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:31 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Herbert Goodman
  Herbert Goodman
  Herbert "Whisper" Goodman is an American mixed martial artist and former NFL runningback for the Green Bay Packers.-NFL career:...
  
   defeats  Jordan Radev
  Jordan Radev
  Jordan Radev is a Bulgarian Olympic wrestler and professional mixed martial artist. He was the first Bulgarian mixed martial artist to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in its middleweight division....
  
   via knockout at 4:59 of Round 2.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Chuck Grigsby defeats  Atanas Dzhambazov via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Lloyd Marshbanks defeats   Emil Samoilov via submission (heel hook) at 3:27 of Round 1.

  Germany vs.  Turkey (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Franco de Leonardis defeats   Akin Duran via submission (triangle choke) at 2:29 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Daniel Weichel
  Daniel Weichel
  Daniel Weichel is a German professional mixed martial artist who has fought for BAMMA, M-1 Global, Shooto, King of the Cage, and Cage Warriors...
  
   defeats   Fatih Dogan via submission (d'arce choke) at 2:29 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Gregor Herb defeats   Ahmed Bayrak via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:00 of Round 2.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Martin Zawada defeats   Samy Turky via TKO at 2:38 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   David Baziak defeats   Tugrul Okay via TKO at 0:52 of Round 2.

  Russia Legion vs. World Team (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Yuri Ivlev
  Yuri Ivlev
  Yuri Ivlev is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. M-1 Global Veteran.-Championships and Accomplishments:Mixed Martial Arts*M-1 Global**M-1 Challenge 2009 Lightweight Champion....
  
   defeats   Romano de los Reyes via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikshabekov is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Jason Ponet via submission (triangle choke) at 1:34 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Sergey Kornev defeats   Nathan Schouteren via KO at 0:12 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Gadzhimurad Omarov defeats   Nils van Noord via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:24 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Michal Kita defeats   Ahmed Sultanov via KO at 2:30 of Round 1.

29 April 2009 (Tokyo, Japan)

  England vs.   Japan (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Luiz Andrade defeats   Ian Butlin via submission (armbar) at 3:20 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Simon Phillips defeats   Hidehiko Hasegawa via KO at 0:20 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Matt Thorpe defeats   Yusuke Masuda via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:30 of Round 2.
• Lightheavyweight bout:   Tom Blackledge
  Tom Blackledge
  Tom Blackledge is an English mixed martial artist. He trains at Wolfslair MMA Academy in Liverpool, England. Blackledge is a Cage Rage veteran and was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   Tatsuya Mizuno
  Tatsuya Mizuno
  is a Japanese light heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has fought at events of Dream, Pancrase and M-1 Global.-Biography and career:Mizuno started competing in judo in high school, and holds a 3rd dan black belt in the discipline...
  
   via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:22 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Rob Broughton
  Rob Broughton
  Rob Broughton is an English mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former Cage Rage British heavyweight champion.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Yusuke Kawaguchi
  Yusuke Kawaguchi
  is a Japanese mixed martial artist, who fights in the heavyweight division. He is the former DEEP Megaton Champion, and has also fought in DREAM, M-1 Global and KSW.-Judo:...
  
   via unanimous decision.

  Spain vs.   France (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Jose Luis Zapater defeats   Makhtar Gueye via disqualification (illegal kick) at 1:21 of Round 3.
• Welterweight bout:   Abner Lloveras
  Abner Lloveras
  Abner "Skullman" Lloveras is a Spanish Catalan mixed martial artist in the welterweight division. He has fought for Shooto and M-1 Global, Abner is a member of M-1 Mixfight Team Spain.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Gael Grimaud
  Gaël Grimaud
  Gaël Grimaud is a French mixed martial artist, fighting out of Toulouse, France.Grimaud is the current Cage Warriors welterweight champion, having at Cage Warriors Fight Night 2 in Amman, Jordan on September 8, 2011 to capture the vacant title....
  
   via split decision.
• Middleweight bout:   Christophe Dafreville defeats   Rayco Silva via submission (Anaconda choke) at 2:48 of Round 1.
• Lightheavyweight bout:   Christian M'Pumbu
  Christian M'Pumbu
  Christian M'Pumbu is a French professional mixed martial artist of Congolese descent. He is the first and current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Enoc Solves via submission (armbar) at 4:59 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Rogent Lloret
  Rogent Lloret
  Rogent Lloret is a Spanish Catalan mixed martial artist and M-1 Global veteran.Lloret competed in the 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in Barcelona, Spain, he lost in the opening round to eventual winner Fabricio Werdum...
  
   defeats   Soufian Elgarne via submission (anaconda choke) at 2:44 of Round 1.

  USA West vs.   South Korea (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Dave Jansen
  Dave Jansen
  David Hendrik Jansen is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He defeated Richard Crunkilton via unanimous decision at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009....
  
   defeats   Yui Chul Nam via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Fábio Nascimento defeats   Myung Ho Bae via majority decision.
• Middleweight bout:   Givanildo Santana
  Givanildo Santana
  Givanildo Santana is a Brazilian mixed martial artist from Irvine, California.- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:Givanildo Santana has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 17-years and is a third degree black belt under Lotus Club from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Santana is a Pan American Jiu Jitsu Black Belt...
  
   defeats   Min Suk Heo via submission (armbar) at 4:05 of Round 1.
• Lightheavyweight bout:   Raphael Davis defeats   Jae Young Kim via TKO (punches) at 3:45 of Round 2.
• Heavyweight bout:   Shane Del Rosario
  Shane Del Rosario
  Shane Kalani del Rosario is an American Thai boxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Strikeforce. He holds the distinction of being the first American to become the WBC Muay Thai World Heavyweight Champion and has earned stoppage victories in all 11 of his professional mixed martial...
  
   defeats   Dool Hee Lee via KO (head kick) at 2:27 of Round 1.

9 May 2009 (São Paulo, Brazil)

  Bulgaria vs.   Benelux (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Yanko Yanev defeats   Danny van Bergen
  Danny van Bergen
  Danny van Bergen is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, van Bergen has spent time in KSW, Shooto and M-1 Global.-Early career:...
  
   via submission (armbar) at 2:23 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Raymond Jarman defeats   Ivan Ivanov via TKO (flying knee) at 0:35 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Jordan Radev
  Jordan Radev
  Jordan Radev is a Bulgarian Olympic wrestler and professional mixed martial artist. He was the first Bulgarian mixed martial artist to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in its middleweight division....
  
   defeats   Danny Smit via unanimous decision.
• Lightheavyweight bout:   Emil Samoilov defeats   Jason Jones
  Jason Jones (fighter)
  Jason Jones is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights for United Glory.-MMA career:Jones made his professional MMA debut in May 2004 against Matt Hershberger, where he won by guillotine choke in just 21 seconds...
  
   via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 2:09 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Jessie Gibbs
  Jessie Gibbs
  Jessie Gibbs is a Dutch mixed martial artist, who fights in the heavyweight division. Has a notable wins over the UFC fighters Branden Lee Hinkle, Rob Broughton and Denis Stojnic.-Biography:...
  
   defeats   Nikola Dipchkov via submission (strikes) at 1:37 of Round 1.

  Russia Legion vs.   Germany (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Yura Ivlev defeats   Franco de Leonardis via TKO (stikres) at 2:14 of Round 2.
• Welterweight bout:   Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikshabekov is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Sven Heising via knockout (strikes) at 4:27 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Gregor Herb defeats   Sergey Kornev via submission (armbar) at 4:32 of Round 1.
• Lightheavyweight bout:   Gadzimurad Omarov defeats   Ismail Centinkaya via submission (strikes) at 1:09 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Akhmed Sultanov defeats   Lars Klug via submission (armbar) at 1:21 of Round 1.

  Brazil vs.   Team Imperial (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Hacran Dias
  Hacran Dias
  Hacran Dias is a Brazilian mixed martial artist.- Background and training :Hacran Dias is a part of the Nova Uniao fight team. Over his career Dias has fought in the lightweight division primarily in Shooto Brazil and M-1 Challenges. During these four years, Dias has 13 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw...
  
   defeats   Amirkhan Mazikhov via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:58 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Eduardo Pamplona
  Eduardo Pamplona
  Eduardo Pamplona is Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for International Fight League, M-1 Global, Shooto, and Pancrase. Eduardo holds a notable win over former PRIDE FC contender Jose Landi-Jons.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   Erik Oganov via majority decision.
• Middleweight bout:   Leandro Silva
  Leandro Silva
  Leandro Liberio da Silva Rodrigues , is a Brazilian footballer, who plays for Santos. He plays mainly as a right back.He started his football career on Clube Atlético Sorocaba, and in 14 July 2011, he signed with Santos FC....
  
   defeats   Dmitri Samoylov via unanimous decision.
• Lightheavyweight bout:   Alexander Machado defeats   Mikhail Zayats
  Mikhail Zayats
  Mikhail Zayats is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweigh division. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Zayats mostly competed in his native Russia, where he is an M-1 Global veteran....
  
   via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Joaquim Ferreira
  Joaquim Ferreira (fighter)
  Joaquim "Mamute" Ferreira is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for M-1 Global. Ferreira is currently a member of M-1 Mixfight Team Brazil. Joaquim recently signed with North American promotion Shine Fights...
  
   defeats   Maxim Grishin
  Maxim Grishin
  Maxim Grishin is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Grishin has fought all over the world, though mostly in Central and Eastern Europe. He defeated Alexander Volkov for the 2010 M-1 Global Eastern Europe Heavyweight...
  
   via submission (North/South Choke) at 3:57 of Round 1.

5 June 2009 (Kansas City, USA)

World Team vs.   Turkey (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Akin Duran defeats   Romano De Los Reyes via TKO (strikes) at 1:57 of Round 3.
• Welterweight bout:   Diego Gonzalez defeats   Fatih Dogan via TKO (strikes) at 2:16 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Nathan Schouteren defeats   Ahmed Bayrak via TKO (strikes) at 3:21 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Ryan Sturdy defeats   John Doyle via majority decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Michał Kita
  Michał Kita
  Michał 'Masacre' Kita is a Polish mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the heavyweight division and is ranked as #2 Polish Heavyweight Mixed Martial Artist by MMAROCKS.PLand #8 European Heavyweight Mixed Martial Artist by groundandpound.de...
  
   defeats   Liron Wilson via TKO (strikes) at 3:27 of Round 1.

  France vs.   England (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Makhtar Gueye defeats   Ian Butlin via TKO (strikes) at 0:09 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Gael Grimaud
  Gaël Grimaud
  Gaël Grimaud is a French mixed martial artist, fighting out of Toulouse, France.Grimaud is the current Cage Warriors welterweight champion, having at Cage Warriors Fight Night 2 in Amman, Jordan on September 8, 2011 to capture the vacant title....
  
   defeats   Simon Phillips via submission (triangle) 1:29 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Christophe Dafreville defeats   Matt Thorpe via submission (triangle) at 4:32 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Johan Romming defeats   Danny Giblin via submission (North/South choke) at 1:59 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Rob Broughton
  Rob Broughton
  Rob Broughton is an English mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former Cage Rage British heavyweight champion.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Soufian Elgarne via corner stoppage (injury) at 2:02 of Round 1.

  USA East vs.   Finland (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Renato Migliaccio
  Renato Migliaccio
  Renato Migliaccio is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and grappler who has fought for M-1 Global, RINGS and King of the Cage promotions. Renato has competed in the ADCC, Grapplers Quest, and the 2007 Pan American Games...
  
   defeats   Niko Puhakka
  Niko Puhakka
  Niko Puhakka is a Finnish mixed martial artist, who competes in the lightweight division. He has fought around the world in a number of promotions including KSW and M-1 Global. He is known for having numerous neo-Nazi tattoos.-Career:...
  
   via submission (armbar) at 4:18 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Janne Tulirinta
  Janne Tulirinta
  Janne Tulirinta is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Tulirinta has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Anthony Ford
  Anthony Ford
  Anthony Ford is a judge of the Employment Court of New Zealand and a former Chief Justice of Tonga.Ford is a New Zealander. He was admitted to the bar in Auckland in 1970 and worked as a lawyer, specialising in employment and commercial law and defamation. In 2000, he was appointed as a judge of...
  
   via TKO (strikes) at 0:11 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Lucio Linhares
  Lucio Linhares
  Lucio Linhares is a Brazilian-Finnish professional mixed martial artist and M-1 Global veteran who has fought for Shooto. Linhares most notable win is over former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Sean Salmon. Linhares is a former member of the M-1 Mixfight Team Finland...
  
   defeats   Valdir Araujo via knockout at 1:25 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Rodney Wallace
  Rodney Wallace (fighter)
  Rodney Wallace is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He previously fought in the UFC's light heavyweight division. Rodney currently competes for the Canadian based MFC promotion in the light heavyweight division...
  
   defeats   Marcus Vänttinen
  Marcus Vänttinen
  Marcus Vänttinen is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Vänttinen has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global....
  
   via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Lloyd Marshbanks defeats   Toni Valtonen via submission (neck crank/side headlock) at 0:55 of Round 2.

4 July 2009 (Seoul, South Korea)

  Finland vs.   Bulgaria (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Niko Puhakka
  Niko Puhakka
  Niko Puhakka is a Finnish mixed martial artist, who competes in the lightweight division. He has fought around the world in a number of promotions including KSW and M-1 Global. He is known for having numerous neo-Nazi tattoos.-Career:...
  
   defeats   Yanko Yanev via TKO (strikes) at 2:16 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Janne Tulirinta
  Janne Tulirinta
  Janne Tulirinta is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Tulirinta has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Ivan Ivanov via TKO (strikes) at 3:44 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Rosen Dimitrov
  Rosen Dimitrov
  | 82 kgRosen Dimitrov is a Bulgarian Sambo practitioner who has won a Gold medal at the Combat Sambo World Championships...
  
   defeats   Mikko Suvanto via majority decision.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Marcus Vänttinen
  Marcus Vänttinen
  Marcus Vänttinen is a Finnish professional mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, Vänttinen has mostly competed in Finland, most notably for M-1 Global....
  
   defeats   Emil Samoilov via submission (verbal) at 3:42 of Round 3.
• Heavyweight bout:   Toni Valtonen defeats   Nikola Dipchkov via submission (triangle) at 4:49 of Round 1.

  USA West vs.   Russia Imperial (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Dave Jansen
  Dave Jansen
  David Hendrik Jansen is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights for the WEC. He defeated Richard Crunkilton via unanimous decision at WEC 43 on October 10, 2009....
  
   defeats   Amirkhan Mazikhov via submission (guillotine) at 0:22 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Fábio Nascimento defeats   Marat Ilaev via submission (armbar) at 2:13 of Round 2.
• Middleweight bout:   Givanildo Santana
  Givanildo Santana
  Givanildo Santana is a Brazilian mixed martial artist from Irvine, California.- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:Givanildo Santana has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 17-years and is a third degree black belt under Lotus Club from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Santana is a Pan American Jiu Jitsu Black Belt...
  
   defeats   Radmir Gabdulin via submission (arm triangle) at 3:47 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Tony Lopez
  Tony Lopez (fighter)
  Tony Lopez is an American mixed martial artist fighting out of Huntington Beach, California with Team Wildman Vale Tudo. He is the current Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Champion and was formerly the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight King of the Cage Champion...
  
   defeats   Viktor Nemkov
  Viktor Nemkov
  Viktor Nemkov is a Russian Combat Sambo competitor and mixed martial artist. Nemkov is a multiple time Combat Sambo champion and is also among the youngest champions in the nation.-Background:...
  
   via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:06 of Round 2.
• Heavyweight bout:   Shane Del Rosario
  Shane Del Rosario
  Shane Kalani del Rosario is an American Thai boxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Strikeforce. He holds the distinction of being the first American to become the WBC Muay Thai World Heavyweight Champion and has earned stoppage victories in all 11 of his professional mixed martial...
  
   defeats   Maksim Grishin via TKO (strikes) at 0:21 of Round 1.

  Brazil vs.   South Korea (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Nam Yui Chul defeats   Hacran Dias
  Hacran Dias
  Hacran Dias is a Brazilian mixed martial artist.- Background and training :Hacran Dias is a part of the Nova Uniao fight team. Over his career Dias has fought in the lightweight division primarily in Shooto Brazil and M-1 Challenges. During these four years, Dias has 13 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw...
  
   via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Eduardo Pamplona
  Eduardo Pamplona
  Eduardo Pamplona is Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for International Fight League, M-1 Global, Shooto, and Pancrase. Eduardo holds a notable win over former PRIDE FC contender Jose Landi-Jons.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   Do Hyung Kim via unanimous decision.
• Middleweight bout:  Daniel Acacio
  Daniel Acacio
  Daniel Acacio is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is most notable for his fights in PRIDE Fighting Championships....
  
   defeats   Jae Young Kim via majority decision.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Alexander Machado defeats   Dool Hee Lee via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:26 of Round 2.
• Heavyweight bout:   Hae Joon Yang
  Hae Joon Yang
  Yang Hae-Joon , often anglicised to Hae-Joon Yang, is a South Korean mixed martial artist. This Korean fighter has a pro MMA record of 5-2 and holds notable wins over Joaquim Ferreira and Japanese MMA veteran Gotoku Onda...
  
   defeats   Joaquim Ferreira
  Joaquim Ferreira (fighter)
  Joaquim "Mamute" Ferreira is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has fought for M-1 Global. Ferreira is currently a member of M-1 Mixfight Team Brazil. Joaquim recently signed with North American promotion Shine Fights...
  
   def. via knockout at 0:14 of Round 1.

15 August 2009 (Amsterdam, Holland)

  England vs.   Spain (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Scott Hewitt defeats   Jose Roque via submission (armbar) at 1:35 of Round 2.
• Welterweight bout:   Simon Phillips defeats   Jonathan Leon via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:29 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Matt Thorpe defeats   Rafael Rodriguez via submission (triangle) at 0:56 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Tom Blackledge
  Tom Blackledge
  Tom Blackledge is an English mixed martial artist. He trains at Wolfslair MMA Academy in Liverpool, England. Blackledge is a Cage Rage veteran and was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   Enoc Solves via KO (head kick) at 0:09 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   David Keeley defeats   Paco Estevez via TKO (strikes) at 4:23 of Round 2.

  Japan vs.   France (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Yoshiro Tomioka defeats   Frederic Fernandez via submission (triangle) at 3:53 Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Yuya Shirai
  Yuya Shirai
  Yuya Shirai is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He has fought for Deep, BAMMA, M-1 Global, Pancrase, DREAM and is currently the undisputed DEEP Welterweight Champion.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Gael Grimaud
  Gaël Grimaud
  Gaël Grimaud is a French mixed martial artist, fighting out of Toulouse, France.Grimaud is the current Cage Warriors welterweight champion, having at Cage Warriors Fight Night 2 in Amman, Jordan on September 8, 2011 to capture the vacant title....
  
   via TKO (strikes) at 4:16 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Christophe Dafreville defeats   Yusuke Masuda via submission (armbar) at 2:27 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Christian M'Pumbu
  Christian M'Pumbu
  Christian M'Pumbu is a French professional mixed martial artist of Congolese descent. He is the first and current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Hideto Tatsumi via TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of Round 2.
• Heavyweight bout:   Yoshiyuki Nakanishi
  Yoshiyuki Nakanishi
  Yoshiyuki Nakanishi is an Japanese light heavyweight mixed martial artist from Shiga.-Sambo :* 3 July 2005 won All-Japan sambo championship 31 in weight category -100, finally defeated Hasegara Tomohiro....
  
   defeats   Akim Assenine via submission (Achilles lock) at 4:51 of Round 1.

  Germany vs. World Team (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Daniel Weichel
  Daniel Weichel
  Daniel Weichel is a German professional mixed martial artist who has fought for BAMMA, M-1 Global, Shooto, King of the Cage, and Cage Warriors...
  
   defeats   Danial Sharifi via submission (guillotine) at 2:53 of Round 2.
• Welterweight bout:   Diego Gonzalez* defeats   Nordin Asrih via unanimous decision.
• Middleweight bout:   Nathan Schouteren defeats   Ismael Cetinkaya via TKO (strikes) at 3:51 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Mathias Schuck defeats   Johan Romming via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Thorsten Kronz defeats   Miodrag Petkovic
  Miodrag petkovic
  Miodrag S. Petković is a mathematician and computer scientist. He graduated in Computer Science in 1972 and gained his PhD in Mathematics in the area of Interval analysis...
  
   via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 3:08 of Round 2.

• • Despite winning the individual bout, Gonzales’ victory over Asrih was not valid as Gonzales failed to make weight within the M-1 Challenge designated time limit. Per M-1 Challenge rules, the fight was ruled a forfeit in Germany’s favor as it relates to the M-1 Challenge standings.

16 August 2009 (Amsterdam, Holland)

  Japan vs.   Spain (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Abner Lloveras
  Abner Lloveras
  Abner "Skullman" Lloveras is a Spanish Catalan mixed martial artist in the welterweight division. He has fought for Shooto and M-1 Global, Abner is a member of M-1 Mixfight Team Spain.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Luiz Andrade via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Hidehiko Hasegawa defeats   Jose Bertran via unanimous decision.
• Middleweight bout:   Rikuhei Fujii defeats   Rayco Kakin via unanimous decision.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Tatsuya Mizuno
  Tatsuya Mizuno
  is a Japanese light heavyweight mixed martial artist. He has fought at events of Dream, Pancrase and M-1 Global.-Biography and career:Mizuno started competing in judo in high school, and holds a 3rd dan black belt in the discipline...
  
   defeats   Rafael Rodriguez via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:20 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Yusuke Kawaguchi
  Yusuke Kawaguchi
  is a Japanese mixed martial artist, who fights in the heavyweight division. He is the former DEEP Megaton Champion, and has also fought in DREAM, M-1 Global and KSW.-Judo:...
  
   defeats   Cirio Tejera via unanimous decision.

  Russia Legion vs.   Turkey (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Rustam Khabilov defeats   Akin Duran via knockout (throw) at 0:28 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikshabekov is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Fatih Dogan via TKO (strikes) at 0:35 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Sergey Kornev defeats   Ahmed Bayrak via submission (neck crank) at 1:04 of Round 2.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Besiki Gerenava defeats   Abdullah Ahmady via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:51 of Round 2.
• Heavyweight bout:   Akhmed Sultanov defeats   Gurhan Degirmenci via submission (triangle) at 1:07 of Round 1.

  Benelux vs.   USA East (3-2)

• Lightweight bout:   Danny van Bergen
  Danny van Bergen
  Danny van Bergen is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2004, van Bergen has spent time in KSW, Shooto and M-1 Global.-Early career:...
  
   defeats   David Zitnik via TKO (strikes) at 2:07 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Shamar Bailey
  Shamar Bailey
  Shamar Bailey is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Bailey has made a name for himself fighting in the Midwest, and his 1-1 stint with Strikeforce. He was a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs...
  
   defeats   Raymond Jarman via TKO (strikes) at 3:15 of Round 2.
• Middleweight bout:   John Doyle defeats   Richard Plug via unanimous decision.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Jason Jones
  Jason Jones (fighter)
  Jason Jones is a Dutch professional mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights for United Glory.-MMA career:Jones made his professional MMA debut in May 2004 against Matt Hershberger, where he won by guillotine choke in just 21 seconds...
  
   defeats   Mike Connors via submission (strikes) at 1:00 of Round 1.
• Heavyweight bout:   Jessie Gibbs
  Jessie Gibbs
  Jessie Gibbs is a Dutch mixed martial artist, who fights in the heavyweight division. Has a notable wins over the UFC fighters Branden Lee Hinkle, Rob Broughton and Denis Stojnic.-Biography:...
  
   defeats   Charles Grigsby via unanimous decision.

Final round

Semi-Finals

26 September 2009 (Rostov-on-Don, Russia)

  USA East vs.   USA West (4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Ivan Jorge defeats   Steve Magdaleno via unanimous decision.
• Welterweight bout:   Delson Heleno defeats   Fabio Nascimento via unanimous decision.
• Middleweight bout:   Gerson Dos Santos defeats   Joao Asis via TKO (strikes) at 3:50 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Chuck Grigsby defeats   Spencer Hooker via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Shane Del Rosario
  Shane Del Rosario
  Shane Kalani del Rosario is an American Thai boxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Strikeforce. He holds the distinction of being the first American to become the WBC Muay Thai World Heavyweight Champion and has earned stoppage victories in all 11 of his professional mixed martial...
  
   defeats   Lloyd Marshbanks via TKO at 1:34 of Round 1.

  Russian Legion vs.   England(4-1)

• Lightweight bout:   Yuri Ivlev
  Yuri Ivlev
  Yuri Ivlev is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. M-1 Global Veteran.-Championships and Accomplishments:Mixed Martial Arts*M-1 Global**M-1 Challenge 2009 Lightweight Champion....
  
   defeats   Scott Hewitt via TKO (strikes) at 0:54 of Round 1.
• Welterweight bout:   Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikshabekov is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Simon Phillips via submission (reverse heel hook) at 0:15 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Ansar Chalangov
  Ansar Chalangov
  Ansar Chalangov is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts record:|Win|align=center|11-4| Danilo Pereira|Submission |2009 M-1 Challenge Season#Final round||align=center|1...
  
   defeats   Matt Thorpe via submission (reverse heel hook) at 0:41 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Besiki Gerenava defeats   Lee Austin via unanimous decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Rob Broughton
  Rob Broughton
  Rob Broughton is an English mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former Cage Rage British heavyweight champion.-Background:...
  
   defeats   Akhmed Sultanov via submission (keylock) at 4:31 of Round 1.

Finals

3 December 2009 (St. Petersburg, Russia)

  Russian Legion vs.   USA East (5-0)

• Lightweight bout:   Yura Ivlev defeats   Ivan Jorge via TKO (strikes) at 4:11 of Round 2.
• Welterweight bout:   Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikhshabekov
  Magomed Shikshabekov is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   defeats   Gerson Dos Santos via submission (armbar) at 2:06 of Round 1.
• Middleweight bout:   Ansar Chalangov
  Ansar Chalangov
  Ansar Chalangov is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division.-Mixed martial arts record:|Win|align=center|11-4| Danilo Pereira|Submission |2009 M-1 Challenge Season#Final round||align=center|1...
  
   defeats   Danilo Pereira via submission (heel hook) at 4:17 of Round 1.
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Besiki Gerenava defeats   Chuck Grigsby via split decision.
• Heavyweight bout:   Gadzhimurad Omarov defeats   Lloyd Marshbanks via corner stoppage at 4:07 of Round 3.