The M-1 Selection tournament format provides an even playing field for both experienced professional’s who are looking to move forward to a bigger stage, as well as upstart fighters looking to prove their place among the sports best up and coming fighers. In the welterweight division of the Eastern European semi-finals , a battle between a proven veteran and a relative new comer will serve as proof of concept.
On May 28 in Kiev, Ukraine M-1 Global will be holding the Semi-Final round of fights for the Eastern European region of the 2010 M-1 Selection.  The first of two welterweight  battles feature  a pair of fighters from Dagastan. While the combatants share a town, they fight out of rival camps. Shamil Zavurov of Rusfighters and Ramazan Abdulzhalilov of the Legion
Shamil Zavurov with his experience  as a  fighter deserves very close attention as a tournament favorite. A 3-time world champion in Combat Sambo, 2-time champion of the CIS on hand to hand battle, winner international tournaments in wrestling and wushu Sanda, champion of Dagestan on Wushu Sanda. More than 50 victories in combat Sambo, fifty victories in the semi-professional fights with 13 wins and just one defeat as a professional in MMA – Zavurov is one to watch. In Russia he has won almost everything and everything is proven, it is time to go to the international stage and best possible way to do that is to win in the M-1 Selection. Shamil started his way in this tournament with a victory over the Red Devil representative Radicom Iboyanom – in the second round of the fight,  Shamil knocked his opponent canvas , completely immobilized him from side-mount and finished off with a series of blows to the head forceing the referee to stop the fight. Now he will meet his second consecutive “dark horse” of this tournament.
Ramazan Abdulzhalilov
Unlike Zavurova, Ramazan Abdulzhalilov  is not nearly as well known to fans of mixed martial arts. Fighting out of  Legion Club, 5 wins, 1 loss, he was the  champion of Dagestan in wrestling among boys and young people who competed in the Southern Federal District Combat Sambo .  While it may be more difficult to scout and find tape of Abdulzhalilov, one cannot deny that he comes from a fighting pedigree as he is a cousin and sparing partner of the welterweight phenom Magomed Shishabenkov. And this in itself  speaks volumes. In the quarterfinals  Abdulzhalilov didn’t show too much of his game as he dominated his opening round fight and in a minute forced the surrender of  a much more experienced fighter in Said Khalilov, and then went home to prepare for the semi-finals. He is viewed by some as  a fighter, a riddle, one of which you can only guess his true strength, but the potential of this up and coming prospect is clear and very  considerable.
The Semi-Finals of the M-1 Selection Eastern Europe tournament will be available LIVE for a world wide audience though various distribution outlets. The event will also be streamed LIVE on M-1Global.com as well as a few select partner sites starting at 12:30 pm ET/ 9:30 am PT . Check local listings and time zones for start time in your area.
