"Kim and Pamplona represent what the M-1 Challenge is all about," said M-1 Global Live Events Vice President Joe Kelly. "We really feel that these two fighters have the potential to put on one of the most exciting fights the M-1 Challenge has ever seen. In the end, the winner of the fight will move on to an even bigger stage."

Another anticipated matchup in the Brazil vs. South Korea series is a lightweight matchup between Brazilian ace Hacran Dias, 11-0-1. Dias is one of the most talked about prospect s to come out of Brazil in recent years and is on the verge of transcending from prospect status to world title contender.

Kicking off the 15-bout event will be a team challenge series between Group B rivals Bulgaria and Finland. The Fins are competing on less than a 30-day turnaround following their June 5 loss to USA East in Kansas City. After getting out to a 2-1 lead vs. the Americans, Finland then dropped two consecutive bouts and ended up losing by a 3-2 score.

Despite the loss and the short rest, Finland is a determined team with hopes of supplanting USA East for the Group C title and a trip to the M-1 Challenge semifinals. With a dominant win over Bulgaria on Saturday coupled with a USA East loss to Team Benelux in Amsterdam on Aug. 15, the Fins will be able to pull off the improbable rally.

But winning 3-2 against Bulgaria will not be sufficient, as a 4-1 margin of victory or better is needed in order for Finland to keep their post-season hopes alive. They will have to try to pull off the dominant victory without the services of its best fighter, 12-3 middleweight Lucio Linhares. Linhares, a jiu-jitsu black belt, was taken off the card in order to prepare for his first major appearance on a U.S. event when he fights M-1 Challenge veteran Mikhail Zayats on Aug.1 at Affliction and M-1's "Trilogy" event.

Stepping in for Linhares will be Mikko Suvanto. Despite the lineup change, each and every one of Suvanto's teammates has publicly pledged their support for their new teammate. He will look to keep Finland's playoff hopes alive when he faces Bulgaria's Rosen Dmitriov.

Even without Linhares, Finland still rates as one of the M-1 Challenge's most talented teams. Leading the charge Saturday night will be welterweight Janne Tulirinta, who is a leading contender to win the "M-1 Challenge Fighter of the Year" award with two first round finishes on the season. Recently promoted to brown belt by Linahres, the underrated Tulirinta will look to finish the regular season with a 3-0 record when he takes on Ivan Ivanov, 5-2.