» Fighter: Erik Oganov

The M-1 Challenge finals for the 2008 season will take place between Team Red Devil of Russia and Team Holland 26 December in Tacoma, near Seattle, WA, M-1 Global announced Monday.

The match-ups are as follows:

Lightweights Mikhail Malutin (7-5) v Bogdan Christea (4-2-1)

Welterweights Erik Oganov (8-7) v Romano de los Reyes (5-3)

Middleweights Dimitry Samoylov (5-4) v Jason Jones (5-2)

Light heavyweights Mikhail Zayats (7-1) v Kamil Uyghun (6-3)

Heavyweights Alexey Oleynik (6-4) v Jessie Gibs (3-0)

Also participating in non-tournament bouts are Makhtar Gueye (3-2) of France, Tommy Depret (4-0) of Belgium, “Skull Cracker” Mike Dolce (2-5) of the USA, and Toni Valtonen (13-6) of Finland.

Heavyweight “Hurricaine” Gilbert Yvel (30-12-1) will fight in the co-main event at M-1 Challenge 9 in St. Petersburg 21 November versus an opponent to be named soon, Fighters.com learned from M-1’s Russian division today.

M-1 told Fighters.com that Yvel will not rematch Red Devil heavyweight Roman Zentsov (17-12), who knocked Yvel out in a 2006 PRIDE fight.

The event will be lead by the return of Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (12-3) after the commission debacle before Affliction’s debut in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July.  Emelianenko will fight Korean Sang Soo Lee (9-4).

The event will also feature a team format with bouts between Russia’s Red Devil team versus Korea and Russia’s Legion team versus Holland.

Read More About Gilbert Yvel to Co-Headline M-1 Challenge with Emelianenko…

A rematch between badass British pugilist Wayne Buck (4-1) and Italian Muay Thai wrecker Matteo Minonzio (7-6) headlines a 13-fight card in Nottingham 27 September.

Minonzio forced a doctor stoppage “W” over Buck in Nottingham in July, handing Buck his first MMA loss.

Buck is a retired boxer hailing from Nottingham and looking for revenge.  He ended his career in the ring in 2000 at 10-4-1, winning his final five fights.

Saturday afternoon before the fights, Red Devil fighter and coach Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will hold a seminar featuring DREAM Middleweight GP Champion Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1), UFC welterweight “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (19-6), and “The Machine” Ian Freeman (19-7-1).

Just a week after winning a split decision over Brandon Thatch (3-1) in Beverly Hills, north of Los Angeles, Brandon Magana (6-1) will fight Red Devil’s Erik Oganov (7-7) in Nottingham.

Read More About Minonzio and Buck Rematch, Magana Fights Again at M-1 Challenge…