Marcin Tybura to defend M-1 Challenge Heavyweight Title Belt vs. Ante Delija M-1 Challenge 61 main event Sept. 20 in Ingushetia, Russia

M-1 Challenge 61 main event Sept. 20 in Ingushetia, Russia

Tybura vs. Delija was originally scheduled to headline M-1 Challenge 61, Sept. 5 in Beijing, China, which was postponed until a date to be determined due to the 70th celebration of China’s victory over Japan at the end of World War II.  Authorities prohibited major events in China from Aug. 20 through Sept. 10.

In another fight previously announced, former M-1 Global middleweight champion Magomed “The White Wolf” Sultanakhmedov (18-5-0, 12 KO/TKO, 0 SUB), of Russia, will return to action after a 4 1/2-year hiatus to fight Brazilian veteran Marcelo Brito 13-7-0, 2 KO/TKO. 5 SUB).

M-1 Challenge 61 will be streamed live from Russia in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.

The 29-year-old Tybura (12-1, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) captured the coveted M-1 Challenge heavyweight title August 15, 2014, choking-out defending champion Damian Grabowski in the opening round with the M-1 Challenge 50 “Submission of the Night”.

The 6′ 3″, 250-pound Tybura (on top in picture to left), fighting out of Poland, successfully defended his title in his first defense last November in Beijing against previously undefeated Denis Smoldarev, using another choke hold in the first round at M-1 Challenge 53.

A former M-1 Challenge Grand Prix heavyweight titlist, Tybura is coming off his only professional loss this past May at M-1 Challenge 57, in which he was stopped in the third round by M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan Puetz in their “Super Fight,” due to a severely broken nose.

Undefeated in his last five fights, Delija (14-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 7 SUB) is a grappling specialist from Croatia, who is coached by M-1 Challenge light heavyweight contender Maro Perak.

The 6′ 5″, 250-pound Delija (standing in picture to right) won a three-round decision over veteran Konstantin Gluhov last April at M-1 Challenge 56 to earn this heavyweight title shot.  Delija, 24, and Tybura have two common opponents:  both defeated Gluhov – Tybura by first-round submission –  Delija lost to Smoldarev by second-round submission.

Fights and fighters are subject to change.  Additional bouts will soon be announced.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 61 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.