By FCF Staff

M-1 Global has confirmed that Costa Mesa, California, will host the promotion’s upcoming July 8^th M-1 Challenge card, which will feature a heavyweight tilt between Kenny Garner (pictured) and Pat Bennett in the main event.  The Hangar at the O.C. Fair and Events Center in Costa Mesa will host the event, and as expected, the card will be broadcast on Showtime.

Garner is a late replacement for M-1 champion Guram Gugenishvili, who is unable to fight Bennett as scheduled due to an injured wrist. Garner (6-3), who is coming off a KO win over Danny Flockhart in April, stopped Bennett in their first meeting last September.

“I’ll fight anyone, anytime for M-1 Global,” Garner said in a news release from the promotion. “I’ve got to do better than what I’ve done before and this is my opportunity to chase down my belt! I’ve been training hard and I’m not losing to Pat Bennett; he’s not making it out of the first round.”

Bennett (4-2) hasn’t competed since December, when he worked his way to a unanimous decision victory over M-1 Global vet Alexander Volkov.

“This is an opportunity to avenge my loss to Kenny and it’s a fight I’ve wanted badly,” said Bennett. “He’s the only one on my mind and I’ve got a point to prove.”