On Dec. 26 in Seattle, Washington, the vision of M-1 Global Owner and President Vadim Finkelchtein will be realized.

Finkelchtein's M-1 Challenge was designed to be the "World Cup of MMA," with teams comprised of mixed martial artists from all over the globe representing their respective country in head-to-head competition. If MMA was an Olympic sport, chances are it would resemble the M-1 Challenge.

On Dec. 26 in Seattle, Washington, at the Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino (tickets now on-sale at all Ticketmaster outlets), the top two teams from the competition's regular season will be going for the gold when Team Russian Red Devil squares off with Team Holland in the finals to determine the first-ever winner of the M-1 Challenge.

Lineups for the best of five head-to-head series have been set for both teams. At lightweight, Team Holland's Bogdan Christea (Career MMA Record: 5-3/M-1 Challenge Record: 2-1) will take on Mikhail Malutin (8-6/4-0) of Team Russian Red Devil.

If MMA had a "Comeback of the Year" award, Christea would be the leading contender after overcoming near fatal injuries sustained in an auto accident. Despite a prognosis from doctors that he'd never fight again, Christea went 2-1 during M-1 Challenge regular season play.

Once overheard telling his coach that an "armbar is not a submission," the rugged Christea knows he'll have his work cut out for him on the 26th.

"It is gonna be a challenge for me, but I like challenges," said Christea. "I respect (Malutin) very much, he has a lot of experience and a good training camp with Fedor and the others. I will do my best and hope I can make a good show of it. We are both pool winners, so may the best win."

At welterweight, Red Devil's Erik Oganov (8-8/3-2) will meet Romano de los Reyes (8-6/1-2) of Team Holland. Oganov, one of Red Devil's most active competitors might be best known to U.S. fans after going 2-0 for the BodogFIGHT promotion with wins over Derrick Noble and former UFC veteran Keith Wisniewski.

In a season in which many fighters involved with the M-1 Challenge raised their global profile, few involved with the competition saw their stock rise higher than that of Jason Jones (7-5/1-2). Despite finishing with a record below .500 during M-1 Challenge play, Jones has made quite a name for himself this season with his dynamic striking ability.