Interview with Vadim Finkelstein about plans of M-1 Global, the MMA Union of Russia and WMMAA for 2014

Hello, Vadim. Thank you that agreed on interview, tell please how many tournaments you plan to hold in 2014?

We have big plans both in the area of M-1 Global, and through the MMA Union of Russia and the World Association WMMA. We are going to carry out at least 10 M-1 Challenge tournaments, the Championship of Russia, the Championship of Asia in Kazakhstan, the European championship. The World Cup we plan in Belarus the World Cup in Ukraine.

Where and when the first M-1 Challenge will take place?

We wanted to begin in February, but this year, as you certainly know, there take place the Olympic Games in Sochi – all eyes of the whole world therefore we start in March upon termination of the Olympic and Paraolimpiysky Games are attracted to it. We plan the first M-1 Challenge tournament in St. Petersburg on March 14, and we will carry out the second on April 4 in Orenburg. In the same months we plan to hold tournament in Moscow. In May tournament in Astana is planned. We conduct negotiations with Monaco and if we obtain the license - that would be quite good to make there tournament for May holidays. We will go to Ingushetia in the summer.

In what cities or the republics tournaments have chance to become annual? For example as in Ingushetia and Orenburg.

It is a lot of prospects, negotiations with a number of regions as there will be a reality are conducted - you learn on our official site of mixfight.ru

Whether new star fighters will be signed?

Certainly! Our matchmeyker conduct continuous search of new talents. We have now a magnificent division of heavyweights, it is considered fairly as the second for force in the world, we will try to bring all other weight categories to this level. Besides, we will continue to sign winners of the championships of Russia, the world and owners of a supercup of Russia, that is those athletes who showed high level of readiness and will get chance to prove in professionals.

Whether you will change a format of tournaments?

The most important in the M-1 Challenge tournaments are spectacular and beautiful duels, and all the rest is a surroundings. We stake on athletes of high level and competitive spectacular fights with equal chances. We won't invite singers for show, and we will select good fighters that to satisfy with cool fights tastes of the most experienced admirers of the mixed single combats.

Whether you plan to enter weight category to 61 kg in your tournaments?

Actually we plan, but for this purpose we should increase number of tournaments. We have many good fighters and all need to give the chance to fight several times a year. I think, emergence of this category is possible if we do at least 12 M-1 Challenge tournaments a year.

Whether there will be M-1 Grand Prix 2014 and if yes - that in what weight?

I can't tell yet, it is in our plans, but weight category and start date yet didn't discuss.

Whether there will be new seasons of the reality show M-1 Fighter?

Certainly will be, we will discuss with the Fighter TV channel - what to bring improvements how to add intrigues, can we will change a format. Show enjoys popularity, it has good ratings, and on final tournament in Moscow on tribunes there was a notice.

Whether expects us revival of tournaments of the M-1 Selection series? What else projects expect us from M-1 in the field of MMA?

These tournaments any more won't be, selection of young talents is now assigned to WMMAA and tournaments in the different countries. Probably, we will start a series of the World MMA PRO tournaments in which champions of the countries will fight, owners of cups and these tournaments will be able to train athletes for transition to the highest league.

And how many now the countries enters WMMAA?

 I at all didn't expect such progress, only for the first year at once WMMAA were entered by 42 countries, from them 36 participated in the World Cup first officially. We planned very serious work on further advance in the world, introduction of passports of athletes, holding the championship and a cup of South America. I expect that in the following World Cup we will have 60 countries - participants. You watch information on the official site of the world association http://wmmaa .org/

Prepared: Site administrator Kirill Kolosov

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