Aleksander Emelianenko will square off against Magomed Malikov at M-1 Challenge 28. | Photo: Evgeni Kogan
The Nov. 12 event was originally supposed to be headlined by a welterweight title fight between Shamil Zavurov and Rashid Magomedov, but the champion was forced from the contest with an injury. Sherdog.com first reported Emelianenko's status as new headliner on Nov. 3.
Going down from Star Centre in Astrakhan, Russia, the event will also showcase a pair of light heavyweight contests, as Tomasz Narkun meets Saparbek Safarov while Isaiah Larson locks horns with Alihan Magomedov. The main draw will be available for viewing live on Ustream.tv for a price of $9.99, and the prelims will stream live and for free on Facebook.
With only four pro fights on record, Malikov owns but a fraction of Emelianenko's experience. In his most recent in-cage appearances, the first-year pro won a four-man tournament on July 22, besting Alexey Olenik and Yuri Gorbenko to emerge victorious. According to M-1 Global, Malikov intends to compete in the promotion's upcoming heavyweight grand prix, taking place Nov. 19 at M-1 Challenge 29, just one week after Malikov's bout with Emelianenko.
Magomed
Malikov vs. Aleksander
Emelianenko
Yves
Landu vs. Vugar
Bahshiev
Tomasz
Narkun vs. Saparbek
Safarov
Isaiah
Larson vs. Alihan
Magomedov
David Bodrie vs. Anton Kostishchin
Enok Solves Torres vs. Ruslan Hashanov
Yan Zhdansky vs. Anatoly
Tokov
Sunay
Hamidov vs. Alexey Martynov
Gregory Baben vs. Alexander
Dolotenko