M-1 Global

M-1 Global (Mixfight-1) or MMA-1 (Mixed martial arts-1) is a mixed martial arts promotion based in St. Petersburg, Russia founded by businessman Vadim Finkelchtein in 1997. Originating from the Russian "mixfight" scene of the 1990s, M-1 grew from local tournament events into one of the most prominent MMA organizations in Russia and one of the better-known promotions outside the UFC and PRIDE during the 2000s. The promotion became particularly associated with heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, whose career was managed by Finkelchtein, and became notable for its willingness to cooperate with other major MMA organizations rather than operate solely as a competing promotion. Throughout its history, M-1 has co-promoted or collaborated with organizations including PRIDE, Affliction, Strikeforce and the UFC, while also developing its own international competition through the M-1 Challenge. M-1 has played a significant role in the development of Russian and Eastern European MMA, providing an early platform for numerous fighters who later competed at the highest level of the sport.