# 2012 M-1 Challenge season

The 2012 M-1 Challenge season was the fifth season of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting presented by the M-1 Global promotion. The first event of the year, M-1 Challenge 31, was held on March 16, 2012, at the Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

## List of events

| Event | Date | Venue | City |
| M-1 Challenge 31 | March 16, 2012 | Ice Palace | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| M-1 Challenge 32 | May 16, 2012 | Crocus Expo | Moscow, Russia |
| M-1 Challenge 33 | June 6, 2012 | Ingush centre | Republic of Ingushetia, Russia |
| M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo | June 21, 2012 | Ice Palace | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| M-1 Challenge 34 | September 30, 2012 | Druzhba Multipurpose Arena | Moscow, Russia |
| M-1 Challenge 35 | November 15, 2012 | Ice Palace | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| M-1 Challenge 36 | December 8, 2012 | Mytishchi Arena | Mytishchi, Russia |

## Event summaries
### M-1 Challenge 31

M-1 Challenge 31: Oleinik vs. Monson was held on March 16, 2012, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the main event, Alexander Emelianenko defeated Tadas Rimkevičius officially by technical knockout at 1:52 of the second round. Reports say that the first round of the fight was fairly even, though Emelianenko was able to drop his opponent late in the round. During the second round, Rimkevičius tapped out to the punches coming from Emelianenko.
The M-1 Global Welterweight Championship was won by Rashid Magomedov from Yasubey Enomoto after a five-round unanimous decision victory. In another featured bout, Jeff Monson faced Alexey Oleinik where Monson won a split decision victory.
Results
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Preliminary | Middleweight | Bruno Carvalho | def. | Ramazan Esenbaev | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | |
| Preliminary | Middleweight | Ilya Doderkin | def. | Alexei Martinov | 1 | 1:57 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |
| Preliminary | Flyweight | Marat Gafurov | def. | David Kozma | 2 | 2:10 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Vugar Bakhshiev | def. | Jerome Bouisson | 2 | 5:00 | TKO (doctor stoppage) | |
| Preliminary | Light Heavyweight | Abdulmazhid Magomedov | def. | Artur Shumakov | 1 | 3:53 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |
| Preliminary | Heavyweight | Deniss Smoldarev | def. | Denis Komkin | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–30, 29–28) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Alexander Yakovlev | vs. | Shamil Zavurov | 3 | 5:00 | Draw (unanimous) (29–29, 28–28, 28–28) | |
| Main | Heavyweight | Jeff Monson | def. | Alexey Oleinik | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Rashid Magomedov | def. | Yasubey Enomoto | 5 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 49–47, 50–45) | For M-1 Welterweight Championship. Rashid to become new M-1 Global Welterweight Champion. |
| Main | Heavyweight | Alexander Emelianenko | def. | Tadas Rimkevičius | 2 | 1:52 | TKO (punches) | |

### M-1 Challenge 32

M-1 Challenge 32 is expected to be held on May 16, 2012, in Moscow, Russia. The event will include a Lightweight Championship bout in which Daniel Weichel will attempt to defend his title against Yuri Ivlev. But Yuri is injured arm and suffered a bout on June 21
Fight card
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Main | Heavyweight | Kenny Garner (c) | def. | Magomed Malikov | 3 | 3:31 | KO (punches) | For M-1 Heavyweight Interim Championship |
| Main | Middleweight | Mario Miranda | def. | Arthur Guseinov | 3 | 2:39 | Submission (rear naked choke) | For Vacant M-1 Middleweight Championship |
| Main | Light Heavyweight | Maxim Grishin | def. | Joachim Christensen | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27) | |
| Main | Lightweight | Musa Khamanaev | def. | Artiom Damkovsky | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) | |
| Main | Light Heavyweight | Arsen Abdulkerimov | def. | Jessie Gibbs | 2 | 0:49 | Submission (guillotine choke) | |
| Preliminary | Welterweight | Ramazan Esenbaev | def. | Daniel Madrid | 1 | 2:28 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |
| Preliminary | Light Heavyweight | Marcin Zontek | def. | Salim Daudov | 2 | 2:41 | TKO (punches) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Nikolai Kaushansky | def. | Mantas Liulionis | 1 | 2:04 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Iftikhor Arbobov | def. | Igor Egorov | 1 | 1:27 | TKO (punches) | |

### M-1 Challenge 33

M-1 Challenge 33: Emelianenko vs. Magomedov was held on June 6, 2012, in Dzheyrakhsky District, Russia.
Fight card
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Main | Heavyweight | Alexander Emelianenko | def. | Ibragim Magomedov | 2 | 5:00 | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Mukhamed Aushev | def. | Ivica Truscek | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Split) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Khusein Khaliev | def. | Patrick Vallee | 1 | 0:39 | Sub (Arm Bar) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Juan Manuel Suarez | def. | Eric Oganov | 2 | 5:00 | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | |
| Preliminary | Featherweight | Yunus Evloev | def. | Olivier Pastor | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Unanimous) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Said Khamzat Avkhadov | def. | Arsen Temirkhanov | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Unanimous) | |
| Preliminary | Welterweight | Sheikh-Magomed Arapkhanov | def. | Sunay Hamidov | 1 | 2:03 | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Murad Abdullaev | def. | Arbi Agujev | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Unanimous) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Cazal Philippe | def. | Alexey Nevzorov | 4 | 5:00 | Sub (Triangle choke) | Lightweight Final the M-1 Selection GP |
| Preliminary | Middleweight | Yuri Shurov | def. | Rafal Lewon | 2 | 1:00 | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | Middleweight Final the M-1 Selection GP |
| Preliminary | Welterweight | Dzhambulat Kurbanov | def. | Ivan Raul | 1 | 2:47 | Sub (Arm Bar) | Welterweight Final the M-1 Selection GP |
| Preliminary | Featherweight | Antun Račić | def. | Salman Dzamaldaev | 2 | 3:36 | Sub (Guillotine Choke) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Ivica Dzebic | def. | Ashot Pashyan | 1 | 4:50 | TKO (Punches) | |

### M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo

On April 6, 2012, Evgeni Kogan, Director of Global operations for M-1 Global, announced that the promotion will hold an event on June 21, 2012, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. At this event, Fedor Emelianenko must face with Pedro Rizzo.
On June 21, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Fedor Emelianenko faced three-time UFC heavyweight title contender Pedro Rizzo in an event promoted by M-1 Global. Prior to the bout, it was rumored that Fedor would retire after taking on Rizzo. Originally denying any possible rumors of retirement at first, Emelianenko later announced his retirement in-ring post-fight after defeating Rizzo by knockout in the first two minutes of the first round.
Fight card
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Main | Heavyweight | Fedor Emelianenko | def. | Pedro Rizzo | 1 | 1:24 | KO (Punches) | |
| Main | Heavyweight | Kenny Garner | def. | Guram Gugenishvili | 3 | 5:00 | TKO (Doctor's Stoppage) | For M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship |
| Main | Lightweight | Musa Khamanaev | def. | Daniel Weichel | 1 | 1:55 | Sub (Heel Hook) | For M-1 Global Lightweight Championship |
| Main | Heavyweight | Jeff Monson | def. | Denis Komkin | 1 | 1:58 | Sub (North-South Choke) | |
| Main | Featherweight | Marat Gafurov | def. | Mairbek Taisumov | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Split) | |
| Main | Featherweight | Mikhail Malyutin | def. | Renat Gasanov | 1 | 3:16 | TKO (punches) | |
| Preliminary | Welterweight | Ramazan Emeev | def. | Albert Duraev | 1 | 1:36 | TKO (Punches) | |
| Preliminary | Featherweight | Vugar Bahshiev | def. | Jerome Bouisson | 1 | 2:48 | Sub (Heel Hook) | |
| Preliminary | Featherweight | Pavel Vitruk | def. | Radoslaw Piechnik | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Unanimous) | |
| Preliminary | Heavyweight | Akhamed Sultanov | def. | Denis Goltsov | 1 | 1:28 | Sub (Heel Hook) | |
| Preliminary | Middleweight | Abdulmazhid Magomedov | def. | Davrhek Isakov | 1 | 3:25 | TKO (punches) | |

### M-1 Challenge 34

M-1 Challenge 34: Emelianenko vs. Glukhov was held on September 30, 2012, in Moscow, Russia
Fight card
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Main | Heavyweight | Alexander Emelianenko | def. | Konstantin Gluhov | 5 | 5:00 | Decision (split) | |
| Main | Light Heavyweight | Sergey Kornev | def. | Marcin Zontek | 5 | 5:00 | Decision (split) | М-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Main | Welterweight | Yasubey Enomoto | def. | Khusein Khaliev | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (split) | |
| Main | Middleweight | Gregory Babene | def. | Enoc Solves Torres | 2 | 2:19 | Submission (heel hook) | |
| Main | Lightweight | Aliyar Sarkerov | def. | Ekhdigat Adakishiev | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) | |

### M- 1 Challenge 35

M-1 Challenge 35: Emelianenko vs. Monson was held on November 15, 2012, in Ice Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
"'Fight card"'
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Main | Heavyweight | Jeff Monson | def. | Alexander Emelianenko | 2 | 3:17 | Submission (North-South Choke) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Rashid Magomedov(c) | def. | Alexander Yakovlev | 5 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) | For the M-1 Global Welterweight Championship |
| Main | Middleweight | Ramazan Emeev | def. | Mario Miranda (fighter) (c) | 5 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) | For the M-1 Global Middleweight Championship |
| Main | Featherweight | Marat Gafurov | def. | Vugar Bakhshiev | 1 | 4:18 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | |
| Main | Heavyweight | Denis Smoldarev | def. | Akhmed Sultanov | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Mairbek Taisumov | def. | Leon del Gaudio | 1 | 3:45 | Submission (guillotine choke) | |
| Preliminary | Featherweight | Mikhail Malyutin | def. | Artem Boiko | 2 | 1:39 | Submission (anaconda) | |
| Preliminary | Lightweight | Artem Damkovsky | def. | Ivica Truscek | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (split) | |
| Preliminary | Featherweight | Pavel Vitruk | def. | Ilya Ovechkin | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) | |

### M-1 Challenge 36

M-1 Challenge 36: Garner vs. Guram II was held on December 8, 2012, in Mytishchi Arena, Mytishchi, Russia.
"'Fight Card"'
| Card | Weight Class | | | | Round | Time | Method | Notes |
| Main | Heavyweight | Kenny Garner (c) | def. | Guram Gugenishvili | 4 | 2:03 | TKO (punches) | For the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship |
| Main | Middleweight | Andrei Semenov (fighter) | def | Michele Vergenelli | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (unanimous) | |
| Main | Welterweight | Artur Guseinov | def. | Evgeniy Fomenko | 1 | 0:55 | KO (spinning back kick) | |