Anyone who followed the M1 Heavyweight GP would have enjoyed some of the craziness that ensued!
- the Heavyweight champ at the time (Garner) lost in the quarterfinals to Konstantin Gluhov, and then lost the title to contender Grabowski (who wasn't taking part in the GP) while the GP was still going!
- in the other quarterfinals, Chaban beat Kudin, Malikov beat Monson, and Smoldarev beat Ibragimov
- Tybura won the sole reserve match, but TWO fighters (recent contender Smoldarev and previous contender Malikov) withdrew with injury after winning their quarterfinal bouts! Tybura replaced Malikov and bashed Chaban Ka to go to the finals, but no replacement for Smoldarev was found so Gluhov was given a walkthrough to the final!
- Tybura dominated Gluhov with his grappling to win the GP while Grabowski won the title from Garner
Not long after, Garner lost to Gluhov again in a rematch.
I think things really started to potentially pick up when M1 newcomers Abdurahimov, Ishii and Kharitonov were catapulted into the limelight as heavyweight prospects ready to take the scene when they all soundly beat M1 GP quarterfinalists Garner, Monson and Kudin. With Grabowski and Gluhov pitted against each other as former title contenders both looking to maintain relevance in the division, it would make sense that two of the three newcomers would fight for a #1 contender spot.
Honestly, I believe Ishii ducked Kharitonov and shouldn't be considered. Garner didn't deserve to be in that match against Sergei, having been blasted by Gluhov twice, Grabowski AND Shamil, but fact is that there was every chance Sergei was going to beat Ishii anyway. In which case, I am of the belief that M1 shouldn't look to the Ishii/Cro Cop winner as a contender in any way, and Sergei needs that next shot.