M-1 Challenge 30 Recap: Enomoto wins Welterweight Title, Damkovsky crushes Figueroa

Zavurov vs Enomoto, part one. All videos props to IronForgesIron.com

When we last checked in on M-1 Global, Jeff Monson was busy being the anti-Bones before his loss to Fedor, Aleksander Emelianenko got flattened by Magomed Malikov and Maxim Grishin was caught rubbing his legs down with Bengay before a losing effort in his interim heavyweight championship bout with Kenny Garner. So basically, M-1 Global has been delivering plenty of insanity is what we’re getting at. Those of you who watched last night’s M-1 Challenge 30 in Costa Mesa, California expecting a freak show were likely disappointed, but those of you who expected a night of good fights got exactly that.

The evening’s main event saw welterweight champion Shamil Zavurov, who was forced out of a title defense against Rashid Magomedov at M-1 Challenge 28 by a last minute injury, defend his title against Swiss prospect Yasubey Enomoto. Earlier this year, Zavurov took home a unanimous decision over Enomoto after Yasubey Enomoto took the fight on eight days notice. This time around, Shamil Zavurov would not be so lucky.


Zavurov vs Enomoto, part one. All videos props to IronForgesIron.com

When we last checked in on M-1 Global, Jeff Monson was busy being the anti-Bones before his loss to Fedor, Aleksander Emelianenko got flattened by Magomed Malikov and Maxim Grishin was caught rubbing his legs down with Bengay before a losing effort in his interim heavyweight championship bout with Kenny Garner. So basically, M-1 Global has been delivering plenty of insanity is what we’re getting at. Those of you who watched last night’s M-1 Challenge 30 in Costa Mesa, California expecting a freak show were likely disappointed, but those of you who expected a night of good fights got exactly that.

The evening’s main event saw welterweight champion Shamil Zavurov, who was forced out of a title defense against Rashid Magomedov at M-1 Challenge 28 by a last minute injury, defend his title against Swiss prospect Yasubey Enomoto. Earlier this year, Zavurov took home a unanimous decision over Enomoto after Yasubey Enomoto took the fight on eight days notice. This time around, Shamil Zavurov would not be so lucky.

Shamil faded in the championship rounds, causing his takedown attempts to become more and more transparent. With one minute left in the final round, Zavurov shot for a takedown against Enomoto, and Enomoto countered the attempt with a fight-ending guillotine. Yasubey Enomoto improves to 9-3 with the victory, while the loss snaps a thirteen fight win streak for Shamil Zavurov.


Zavurov vs Enomoto, part two.

Also of note, Artiom Damkovsky redeemed himself after a second round TKO in March against Jose Figueroa with a first round knockout over Figueroa. Figueroa came out attempting a quick, sloppy takedown from across the ring. That kind of thing may work in the amateur circuit, but against Damkovsky? Not so much. Figueroa was unable to get Damkovsky to the ground before the knockout, and now falls to 10-6 in his career. Coincidentally, Artiom Damkovsky improves to 10-6 with the victory.


Artiom Damkovsky vs. Jose Figueroa

Results, via MMA Junkie:

MAIN CARD (Showtime)

Yasubey Enomoto def. Shamil Zavurov via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 5, 4:10
Artiom Damkovsky def. Jose Figueroa via KO (punches) – Round 1, 2:19
Alexander Sarnavskiy def. Sergio Cortez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:46
Tyson Jeffries def. Eddie Arizmendi via submission (brabo choke) – Round 2, 2:08
Bao Quach def. Alvin Cacdac via submission (triangle armbar) – Round 1, 3:33