Showtime hosts "M-1 Challenge: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa" on March 25

Strikeforce won't be the only MMA action featured on premium cable channel Showtime.

Showtime officials today announced that the channel will broadcast a March 25 event hosted by Strikeforce's business partners M-1 Global.

The Russian-based organization heads to Virginia's Ted Constant Convocation Center for "M-1 Challenge: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa," which sees Artiom Damkovsky (8-4) defend his M-1 Challenge lightweight title against Jose Figueroa (9-4) in the evening's main event.

"I am extremely happy about the venture between M-1 Global and Showtime," M-1 Global co-founder Vadim Finkelchtein stated in today's release. "There is no better TV network for M-1 than Showtime – and no better market to seriously compete in than the U.S."

Veteran broadcasters Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich, who also team together for the channel's Strikeforce coverage, will call the action.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from multiple sources close to the network that the event is expected to serve as the first of multiple M-1 Global events to air on Showtime this year. However, terms of the deal were not revealed, and the channel has not publicly committed to any events past the March 25 date.

"Our ability to televise quality boxing and MMA fights at the highest level has been aided tremendously by our commitment to showcasing prospects and lesser known international stars on our feeder series like 'ShoBox: The New Generation' and Strikeforce Challengers," Showtime sports executive Ken Hershman stated. "M-1 Challenge events fit perfectly into that mold and will enhance our mixed martial arts offerings even further."

Similar to Showtime's current MMA programming, the M-1 Challenge event airs live at 11 p.m. ET and is tape-delayed to the West Coast.

In addition to the evening's main event, "M-1 Challenge: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa" features Tyson Jeffries (7-4) and Magomed Sultanakhmedov (14-5) meeting with the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight title on the line. Two-time UFC veteran Vinny Magalhaes (6-5) also faces an opponent still to be determined, while lightweights Alexander Sarnavskiy (12-0) and Josh Bacallao (6-2) round-out the main card.

While M-1 Global is best known as the management group of Fedor Emelianenko, the organization has hosted events around the world since 1997.