Maxim Divnich (right) (photo via M-1 Global)

By FCF Staff

M-1 Challenge and  Absolute Championship Berkut have announced that their co-promoted event on December 17th, will feature Maxim Divnich taking on Dzhambulat Kurbanov for the vacant, M-1 Challenge lightweight title.

The upcoming event will be hosted by the Palais des Sports Ice in St. Petersburg, Russia.

“Executives from both companies (including Mairbeck Hasiev and Bekhan Hasiev from ACB) are confident that this joint venture will be successful,” M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein said in a press release, while discussing the joint venture, “giving MMA fans in Russia a number of interesting fights as well as a very entertaining show. We plan on having 12 competitive fights, featuring the strongest fighters from Russian clubs like Berkut, Alexander Nevsky, Fightspirit, Sambo-Peter, Martial Arts Club No. 1, and Alexander Nevsky OEMK, in addition to having top fighters from several foreign countries.”

Divnich (9-0) is coming off a first round, heel hook submission win over Antonio Paulo in September. The Russian lightweight has recorded finishes in 6 of his 9 victories.

Kurbanov (6-0-1) tapped out Dmitry Korobeynikov with a opening round, triangle choke in his last outing, which took place at M-1 Challenge 49 in June. Three of Kurbanov’s wins have come via submission.

M-1 Challenge 54 / ACB 12 will be streamed online at M1Global.TV.