(PRESS RELEASE) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Another exciting match has been announced for the May 2nd M-1 Challenge 57: Battle in the Heart of the Continent, in Orenburg, Russia as veteran heavyweight Maro Perak drops down one weight class to fight Russian light heavyweight Rashid Yusupov.
Undefeated M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich (11-0-0 (6 KO/TKO, 1 SUB; M-1: 5-0-0) makes his first title defense against the former BAMMA champion, Mansour "Tarzan" Barnaoui (11-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 7 SUB; M-1: 1-1-0).
M-1 Challenge 57 will be streamed live 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 Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.
Perak (23-5-1, 12 KO/TKO, 8 SUB; M-1: 0-3-0), fighting out of Croatia, has fought his entire pro career as a heavyweight, however, the 6' 1" was at a physical disadvantage in his last two fights against M-1 Selection heavyweight titlist Denis Smoldarev (6' 5"/267 lbs.) and Tybura (6' 3"/248 lbs.).
Considered one of the best heavyweights in Europe, Perak gave Smoldarev and Tybura all they could handle, losing this past February to the former by way of an opening-round submission by arm-lock at M-1 Challenge 55, extending the latter to the final round before being stopped by punches a year ago at M-1 Challenge 47. Perak's most notable career victories have been against Bob Sapp and Travis Wiuff.
Yusupov (4-0-1, 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB; M-1: 1-1-0) was an outstanding amateur mixed-martial-arts fighter, capturing top honors in 2013 at the World, Europe and Russian champion. The highlight of his amateur career was becoming the first World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) light heavyweight champion in 2013.
The 22-year-old Russian also holds the title of International Master of Sports in MMA. At M-1 Challenge 45 (Feb. 29, 2014), Yusupov won a unanimous decision over Charles Andrade.
All fights and fighters are subject to change. Additional fights to soon be announced.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 57 live on Cablevision's Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable 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.