Much like his M-1 Challenge XXV opponent, Arsen Temirkhanov, the crafty Spaniard Juan Manuel Suarez Montesdeoca has gone relatively unnoticed by North American fans since making his debut in late 2007 as he quietly amassed an undefeated 6-0 record. With the M-1 ring being a familiar battleground for this warrior, ‘Jaunma’ returns to the promotion for the fourth time in his career and is set to shock the crowd with his light-speed combinations and limb-locking submissions. If he can continue his impressive run with a victory on Thursday April 28th, Juanma will see more frequent trips inside the confines of the 5-rope ring as a promising contender for the welterweight belt. Catch the action LIVE at 11am EST / 8am PST on the official M-1 Global website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page.
The 31-year-old Suarez hails from Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands and is the pride of the Taz Jinamar fight team. Standing a solid 6’ 1”, he’s a good-sized welterweight in any region and has a reach that can deliver deadly, pin-point combinations while keeping him elusively out of an opponent’s range. Seeking a step up in competition, Suarez is eager to put his skills to the test against a new roster of tough European talent starting with Temirkhanov.
Starting with humble beginnings as a participant in outdoor grappling tournaments, Suarez continued to develop his jiu jitsu skills and is now a fighter with composed, confident ground skills, capable of unleashing an aggressive offensive off his back; his solid submission defense also enables him to roll through dangerous positions with relative ease and into smooth, sequential attempts of his own.
Standing up, Juanma is quick to explode with flying knees, advancing directly into rapid-fire combinations that include heavy-handed striking and quick, stinging leg-kicks; the speed of his kicks leave opponents in constant confusion and guessing as to whether the impact is headed low for the legs, to the middle body and ribs or to the head for a devastating knockout.
Suarez is ready for his battle on the much larger M-1 Global world stage. With M-1 Challenge XXV streaming live to a worldwide audience, a victory will elevate the Spaniard’s awareness with the North American fans who have likely never heard of him before; stringing together a run of exciting victories will likely award Suarez a couple of plane tickets to fight on one of M-1 Global’s US-based events. The future is extremely bright for this undefeated warrior.
Fans can watch Suarez and Temirkhanov battle from inside the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia on Thursday, April 28 at 11am EST / 8am PST by tuning in to the official live stream on M-1 Global website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page at 11:00am EST / 8:00am PST.
With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global’s growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets.
2011’s full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.
For additional information, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page.
