By Press Release

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (August 1, 2018) -The vacant M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title will be on the line August 25, when Dimitriy Mikutsa andKhadis Ibragimov throw-down in theM-1 Challenge 96 main event, in M-1 Arena, at Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Mikutsa (9-3-1, M-1: 2-1-0), one of the top fighters in Ukraine, is riding a four-fight win streak, including M-1 Global victories over Kleber Raimundo Silva last February at M-1 Challenge 87 and Dmitry Tebekin at M-1 Challenge 79, both by way of three-round unanimous decisions. A heavy-handed striker, Mikutsa has knocked out six of his nine victims to date.

One of the most promising prospects in years, undefeated Ibragimov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) has earned his title shot, primarily by defeating former M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan Puetz, using a bulldog choke to submit his German foe in the third round last February at M-1 Challenge 88. Ibragimov, who will be fighting at home in Saint Petersburg, won his last fight at M-1 Challenge 92, when Giga Kukhalalashvili was disqualified in the third round for rope grabbing.

A potentially explosive co-featured event has also been announced as American featherweight Daniel “Agent Orange” Swain (18-8-1, M-1: 1-0-1) takes on Viktor Kolesnik (14-3-1, M-1: 3-1-1), of Russia.

Fighting out of Newport, Washington, the entertaining Swain is coming off a sensational victory this past May at M-1 Challenge 91, when he used a kneebar to submit Musu Nuertiebieke in the opening round.

Kolesnik’s lone loss in his last 10 fights, dating back nearly four years, was by split decision at M-1 Challenge 85 to Nate Landwehr, who is now the newly crowned M-1 Challenge featherweight champion.

Additional fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.