M-1 Challenge XXVI aired on Showtime and took place on July 8, 2011 in Costa Mesa, California.

Former PRIDE heavyweight kingpin Fedor Emelianenko returns to the ring for the first time this year when he meets three-time UFC title challenger Pedro “The Rock” Rizzo. Emelianenko, once the sport's pound-for-pound best, looks to run his current win streak to three since suffering a trio of losses under the Strikeforce banner.