M-1 Challenge MW champ Artem Frolov makes his UFC debut

Undefeated M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Artem Frolov will make his UFC debut, stepping in on short notice to replace injured Omari Ashkedov against battle-tested C.B. "The Doberman" Dollaway, September 15 on the UFC Moscow card at Olympic Stadium in Moscow. "I am very happy for Artem," M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein said, "but a little bit nervous because he accepted the fight on such a short notice, only two weeks before the fight. I'm sure he will demonstrate his high level once again. I said it before that Artem is the second strongest middleweight in Russia, after Alexander Shlemenko, and he deserves this shot. Some may know that Artem was going to fight Bruno Blindado Silva, who defeated Shlemenko, and I'm happy to say that this fight will happen this fall." The 26-year-old Frolov (11-0), fighting at home out of Russia, captured his M-1 Challenge title belt last October, when he won a unanimous decision against Caio Magalhaes at M-1 Challenge 84. This past June at M-1 Challenge 93, Frolov made his first title defense versus Joe Riggs, who suffered a knee injury that led to a doctor's stoppage in the second round.