The international mixed martial arts championships M-1 Challenge 61 “The Narts’ Fight” has taken place in Nazran for the second time. 24 fighters from Croatia, Brazil, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Turkmenistan and Russian regions participated in it. Ingushetia was represented by five fighters. The show was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory and the 245th anniversary of the union of Ingushetia and Russia. The championships were broadcast in more than 100 countries.
There were more than 2000 spectators. The honored guests of the championships were the head of the republic, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, the president of the M-1 Global International Company, Vadim Finkelstein, the Minister of Sports of Ingushetia, the five-time boxing WBO world champion, Ahmed Kotiyev, a philanthropist, the Vice-President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, Alikhan Kharsiyev, the silver medalist of the last wrestling world championships, Zelimkhan Kartoyev, and others.
The mixed fighter (less than 93 kg) Akramat Yevkurov from Ingushetia interrupted the winning streak of Ukrainian fighters. He defeated Sergey Kutsy in the first round.
In the main fight, Ingushetia was represented by the Pankration European Champion, Lom-Ali Nalgiyev. His rival was the Grapping and Sambo Ukrainian Champion, Alexander Panasyuk. The Ingush athlete admitted that it was the main fight in his professional career. Lom-Ali Nalgiyev had many times tried to undertake various holds, but when the audience decided that the result of the fight was obvious, the Ukrainian fighter managed to escape from a dangerous situation. The fight lasted three rounds and resulted in the victory of the Ingush athlete.
Marchin Tybura from Poland and Ante Delia from Croatia fought for the title of the M-1 Challenge Champion in the heavyweight category. The Croatian athlete demonstrated his strength and a desire to win, but he was heavily injured. His low-kick hit Tybura’s knee. Ingush doctors provided the Croatian with medical care, and the head of the republic personally helped to carry him out of the cage. Therefore, Marchin Tybura remained the M-1 Challenge Champion in the heavyweight category. The head of Ingushetia awarded him with the bronze statue of Suleiman Eagle and the fish-skin belt. The original of the Eagle was founded in the 19th century in the Erzi Tower Complex of Ingushetia. According to Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, a copy of the statue will be awarded annually to the winner of the main fight of the Narts’ Fight Championships.
