M-1 GLOBAL announced today the addition of feared German submission specialist Daniel Weichel (26-7) versus NCAA Division I collegiate wrestler Beau ‘Blackjack’ Baker (8-4) at the mixed martial arts (MMA) event titled M-1 Challenge: Bennett vs. Garner. The bouts from The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California will air LIVE on SHOWTIME on Friday, July 8 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
The event, headlined by the rematch between the 2010 M-1 Selection Americas Tournament heavyweight finalists Pat Bennett (4-2) and Kenny ‘Deuce’ Garner (6-3), is promoted by M-1 GLOBAL.
“Daniel Weichel is one of the most experienced and versatile fighters in M-1’s lightweight division and is a welcome addition on our second televised event on SHOWTIME,” said M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan.
Weichel heads to California having won eight of his last nine bouts including an exciting striker’s war TKO over Yuri Ivlev and a textbook triangle submission over Magomed Khasbulaev. With experience that has been hard-fought and earned through international passage with organizations including Shooto, King of the Cage, Cage Warriors and the UFC, one of his most notable victories comes against Dennis Siver.
Weichel has proven he prefers to avoid the judges’ scorecards in favour of finishing in exciting style. He possesses exceptional athleticism and can scoop the single or double leg takedown effortlessly as a precursor to a submission or devastating ground-and-pound; from his feet, his striking is equally as dangerous.
“I’m taking things step by step but my ultimate goal is winning M-1 Global’s Lightweight belt and it doesn’t matter who I have to go through to get it. On July 8th, fans will get to see me fight at my best and I will put on a great, statement-making performance,” said Weichel.
Beau Baker made his debut with Europe’s leading MMA promotion this past March, opening M-1 Global’s first televised event on SHOWTIME against the undefeated Alexander Sarnavskiy ; the former NCAA Division I collegiate wrestler from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga took a tough second round submission loss and is eager to return to action and steal Weichel’s spotlight.
A well-sized lightweight standing 5’9″, Baker favors fighting from the ground. The 31 year old freestyle fighter out of the MMA Institute in Harrisonburg, Virginia possesses a methodical and tactical style with sound wrestling and scrambling abilities, big assets he leverages to score take downs and unleash a relentless ground and pound.
Known for his lethal grappling, fast hands and iron chin, Baker has faced high caliber competition throughout his career and he’s ready to knock off a vastly experienced Weichel.
