TORONTO – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 multi-platform channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents an action-packed live M-1 Global doubleheader from Harbin, China tomorrow, Thursday, June 15, starting with M-1 Selection 12 at 7 a.m. ET followed by M-1 Challenge 80: Battle in the Celestial Empire 2 at 9 a.m. ET, headlined by an explosive heavyweight slugfest pitting Russian great Sergei Kharitonov (24-6) against fellow Pride Fighting Championships, Strikeforce and Bellator veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (18-17).
Starting at 9 a.m. ET live on Fight Network in Canada, M-1 Challenge 80: Battle in the Celestial Empire 2 will also feature a clash for the M-1 featherweight championship, as Ivan Buchinger (31-5) takes on Russia’s Timur Nagibin (9-2). In other featured matchups, Russian featherweight Mikhail Korobkov (10-2-1) faces Chinese fan favorite Asikerbai Jinensibieke (12-5), Chinese featherweight Musu Nuertiebieke (8-1) welcomes India‘s Sascha Sharma (13-3) into enemy turf and battle-tested Ukrainian veteran Alexander Butenko (43-12-2) tangles with Australian welterweight Corey Nelson (20-6-1).
Starting at 7 a.m. ET live on Fight Network in Canada, the U.S. and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the M-1 Selection 12 fight card includes an intriguing light heavyweight showdown between Brazil’s Carlos Eduardo (15-4) and undefeated German Rene Hoppe (7-0), plus Russia’s Artem Kazbanov (7-1) meets Pakistan’s Nosherwan Khanzada (3-5) in a middleweight bout, while Chinese trio Huyixibai (1-0), Kuerbanjiang (1-1) and Fu KangKang (4-4) are paired up against Georgia’s Ibragim Navruzov (3-0), Ukraine’s Maksim Melnik (3-3) and Russia’s Adam Tsurov (6-6), respectively.
Coming up this weekend, Fight Network delivers more live mixed martial arts from across the globe, anchored by the stacked main card for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: HOLM vs. CORREIA from Singapore this Saturday, June 17 at 8 a.m. ET, airing live on Fight Network across Canada. In the main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm (10-3) looks to right her ship in her 135-pound return opposite Brazilian banger and former title challenger Bethe Correia (10-2-1). Former UFC heavyweight champion and No. 8 heavyweight contender Andrei Arlovski (25-14) is featured in the co-main event against fast-rising Polish star and No. 13-ranked Marcin Tybura (15-2). Rounding out the four-bout main card, top welterweights in pursuit of their fourth consecutive victory will collide when South Korean judoka and No. 7-ranked Dong Hyun Kim (22-3-1) battles American Top Team product Colby Covington (11-1), while former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos (25-9) makes his long awaited welterweight debut against No. 11 contender Tarec Saffiedine (16-6). The event will re-air in its entirety at 6 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET.
On Friday, June 16 at 6 p.m. ET, Fight Network presents a live broadcast of TKO 39: Ultimatum in Canada, emanating from St. Roch, Quebec. The 16-bout card is headlined by a pivotal featherweight matchup pairing Ontario-based featherweight William Romero (10-5) against top Quebec prospect Charles Jourdain (4-0). The card will also showcase the entertaining Laramie brothers, as featherweight T.J. Laramie (5-2) takes on American Jimmy Spicuzza (7-4), while bantamweight Tony Laramie (3-0) meets Louis Jourdain (3-1). Meanwhile, middleweight Strahinja Gavrilovic (5-4) will make his return against Fritz Paul (10-4) and undefeated Brazilian welterweight Davis dos Santos (3-0) battles Frenchman Yacine Bandaoui (7-6).
Canadian viewers can take advantage of Fight Network’s free preview on cable carriers across the country to see all the live events this June.
For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit www.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.
