M-1 Challenge today announced a once seemingly unlikely partnership with the UFC as the world’s top promotion looks to establish a footprint in Russia. Officials from the longtime Russian promotion today announced a partnership with UFC – and “UFC Russia” – in which M-1 Challenge champions will earn UFC contracts. Bloomberg.com also reported the deal. According to M-1, the Mubadala Investment Company and the Russia-China Investment Fund have teamed up to create UFC Russia to “organize new shows in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).” “We are looking forward to further cooperation with the UFC and the (Russia-China Investment Fund) working on developing young Russian talent, and this will benefit our sports very much,” stated M-1 Global President Vadim Finkelchtein, whose past relationship with UFC President Dana White could be labeled rocky (at best). “MMA is a very popular kind of sports, and cooperation of the UFC, investment fund and M-1 Global can take MMA in Russia to new level
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M-1 Challenge announces UFC partnership – with focus on Russia – MMA Junkie