On Saturday, July 22, M-1 Global returned to Ingushetia for the sixth installment of the ‘Battle in the Mountains’ series, M-1 Challenge 81.
In the evening’s main event, talented strikers Movsar Evloev and Pavel Vitruk clashed in a title unification bout. Vitruk won the M-1 bantamweight world title with a submission over Vitali Branchuk after dropping to 135 pounds in 2016. Evloev knocked out Alexei Nevzorov in the second round at M-1 Challenge 76 to win the interim bantamweight title.
In the main card action, knockout artist Sergei Kharitonov fought a Brazilian heavyweight with an 89 percent finishing rate, Gerônimo Dos Santos. UFC veteran Joe Riggs took on longtime M-1 alumni Dmitry Samoilov. Latvian heavyweight striker Konstantin Gluhov met Bellator veteran Kleber “Orgulho” Raimundo Silva.
The event aired live at 10 a.m. ET on M-1 Global TV.
Sergei Kharitonov def. Gerônimo Dos Santos by submission (leg lock). Round 1, 2:13
Joe Riggs def. Dmitry Samoilov by TKO (punches). Round 3, 1:24
Ingiskhan Ozdoev def. Spencer Jebb by knockout (spinning wheel kick). Round 1, 2:25
Kleber Silva def. Konstantin Gluhov by unanimous decision
Arman Ashimov def. Gadzhimurad Aliev by knockout (punch). Round 2, 1:08
Akhmadian Ozdoev def. Alberto Vargas by TKO (knee and punches). Round 1, 2:45
Khamzat Sakalov def. Charles-Henri Tchoungui by unanimous decision
Giga Kukhalashvili def. Nurbek Ismailov by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:59