M-1 Global to Kick Off 2009 at The Playboy Mansion

According to a report on the M-1 Global web site, the second season of the promotion's M-1 Challenge will begin on Feb. 21, 2009 at The Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif. M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein recently inked a contract with the world renowned venue.

Season two will also increase from 10 to 16 teams that will be divvied up into four divisions.

The teams making up season two are: the Imperial Team and the Legion Team from Russia, the World Star Team, the U.S., Spain, Japan, France, Korea, Finland, the Netherlands, Brazil, the U.K., Canada, China, Turkey, and Australia.

Season two will also feature three pairs of teams squaring off at each event. As of the time of publication, the Feb. 21 event at The Playboy Mansion is set to pit the Russian Imperial Team vs. Team Spain, Team Japan vs. Team U.K., and Team U.S.A. vs. Team Brazil.

The event will be broadcast live on HDNet in the United States.

M-1 Global follows in the footsteps of Strikeforce, the first mixed martial arts promotion to hold and event at The Playboy Mansion.