M-1 Global Makes Good on 'Cooperation' Promise

Even before M-1 Global, LLC produces its first event, the newest major mixed martial arts promotion is already making good on its pledge to "work with other organizations."

Organizers for the Yarennoka! New Year's Eve event in Japan announced last week that their main event will feature M-1 Global superstar Fedor Emelianenko (against an opponent yet to be determined) at the 22,000-seat Saitama Super Arena.

Fedor is generally considered the best Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter in world and owns a 26-1 record and was the heavyweight champion of the former Pride event. Fedor attended a press conference in Tokyo recently and told a huge media group that he was "excited to be fighting again in Japan... and hoped this would be a great beginning of M-1 Global's presence in Japan."

Monte Cox, M-1 Global CEO, joined other fight executives in a press conference on November 28, 2007, and praised the "combined efforts of many organizations" to make the Yarennoka! event a success.

"My hope is that this is the start of a new way to promote fighting events in Japan," Cox said. "Instead of fighting against each other, we are all here working together, which will prove to be better for both the fans and promoters of the sport."

Also speaking at the press conference were Fight Entertainment Group’s (K-1) Sadaharu Tanigawa, DEEP president Shigeru Saeki, and former Pride executive Nobuhiko Takada.

"This is something Fedor really wanted to do," Cox said. "He has a huge following in Japan and the New Year's Eve events are legendary here. We're hoping this is the start of a long and successful effort for M-1 Global in Japan."

Two bouts for the NYE event were also announced. Two time HERO'S champion Gesias Calvancanti will take on Shooto world champion Shinya Aoki and current DEEP champion Hidehiko Hasegawa will fight Japanese legend Hayato "Mach" Sakurai.

Dennis Spencer, executive vice president of SFX Media and television representative for M-1 Global said, “In this spirit of cooperation, we are looking forward to bringing the outstanding event to television viewers around the world on both a live and tape-delayed basis.”

Source: www.mmaringreport.com