HISTORIC EXTRAVAGANZA PITS WORLD-CLASS FIGHTERS FROM
THE U.S., LATIN AMERICA AND SPAIN AGAINST EACH OTHER
IN CANCUN, MEXIKO
CANCUN, MX – November 7, 2017 - Combate Américas announced earlier the official matchups for the quarterfinal, or opening stage, of the highly-anticipated “COPA COMBATE," eine Nacht, Acht-Mann-Bantamgewicht (135 Pfund) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Turnier, das seinem Gewinner einen Hauptpreis von $100,000, live on both Telemundo and NBCSN from Cancun, Mexiko auf Samstag, November 11 bei 11:30 p.m. UND/10:30 p.m. CT.
Das Ereignis, which takes place at Grand Oasis Cancun, marks both the first NBCU simulcast in history of an MMA event, and the first-ever Telemundo broadcast of MMA programming.
“COPA COMBATE” also represents the first time that world-class fighters from the U.S., Latin America and Spain will represent their respective countries in an epic, one-night tournament showdown in which the winner will have persevered through three consecutive bouts.
In the first quarterfinal stage bout in tournament bracket “A,” vicious striker Mikey “El Terrible” Erosa (12-5) from San Juan, Puerto Rico will take on red-hot Marcelo “The Pitbull” Rojo (12-4) from Cordoba, Argentinien.
Bei 36 Jahre alt, Erosa is the oldest competitor in the tournament field. A combat sports tri-athlete who also boxes and kickboxes professionally, Erosa is the first recognized Puerto Rican world champion in the sport of MMA.
The 29-year-old Rojo is both the number one ranked bantamweight, as well as the top ranked featherweight (145 Pfund) in his native Argentina.
A former semifinalist on The Ultimate Fighter: Lateinamerika Reality-TV-Serie, Rojo has produced 10 seines 12 Karriere gewinnt durch (T)KO or submission and will enter the tournament riding a four-fight win streak, including two consecutive wins in his first two Combate Americas starts.
On the same side of the tournament draw, wildcard entrant and relentless brawler Ricky "The Gallero" Palacios (9-1) der Mission, Texas, will clash with fast-rising star Carlos “Lobo” Rivera (12-2) von Mexiko-Stadt, Mexiko.
The 30-year-old Palacios, the longest standing member of the Combate Americas fighter roster, has won all six of bouts in La Jaula, the Combate Americas circular cage.
In his last two starts, Palacios, also unbeaten as a professional boxer, earned victories over two different Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans – a split decision over Roman Salazar auf April 20, und einen einstimmigen Beschluss über Chris Avila auf Juli 27.
Rivera is a 24-year-old member of the famed “Bonebreakers” fight squad. He has produced 8 seines 10 berufliche Karriere gewinnt durch (T)KO oder Duldung, and will enter La Jaula for the first time in his career, with three straight victories under his belt.
On the other side of the tournament draw, 25-year-old trailblazer John "Sexy Mexi" Castaneda (14-2) von Mankato, Von. will battle national Muay Thai champion Kevin “El Frio” Moreyra (4-1) von Lima, Peru.
Tied with Palacios for the greatest number of wins – six – in La Jaula, Castaneda recently re-signed with Combate Americas where he has yet to be beaten, after emerging victorious by way of unanimous decision over Cheyden Leialoha in UFC-Präsident Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series auf August 1.
Moreyra is an aggressive-minded, 24-year-old who also boasts a 4-1 record as a professional Muay Thai combatant, and is regarded as Peru’s fastest rising MMA star.
In the second tournament bracket “B” bout, kampferprobten, number one ranked Spanish bantamweight Marc “Lufo” Gómez (20-10) of Barcelona will collide with number one-ranked Colombian bantamweight Andres “Doble A Leal “ Ayala (14-4) von Bogota.
Mit nur 25 Jahre alt, Gómez has already racked up 30 Profi Kämpfe, making him the most experienced of the tournament field and, seines 20 Karriere Siege, an astonishing 17 haben über gekommen (T)KO oder Duldung.
Ayala is a gutsy, 27-year-old striker who also boasts a spectacular finish rate, mit 9 seines 11 career conquests having come by way of (T)KO oder Duldung. In addition to his place as the top ranked 135-pound fighter in his country, Ayala also owns a top 10 ranking in Mexico.
The live simulcast of “COPA COMBATE” on Telemundo and NBCSN will feature the tournament’s complete semifinal stage consisting of two bouts that pit the winners of the quarterfinal stage matchups in each tournament bracket against one another, as well as the championship stage showdown.
In addition to the tournament action, Telemundo’s and NBCSN’s live television coverage of “COPA COMBATE” will feature the previously announced women’s strawweight (115 Pfund) co-main event between undefeated knockout artist Melissa “Super Melly” Martinez (2-0) von Mexiko-Stadt, Mexiko, and submission expert and Miesha Tate pupil Gloria “Gloriosa” Bravo (4-2) von Santiago, Chile.
The entire quarterfinal stage of the tournament, as well as two tournament alternate bouts and a second women’s bout that will be announced soon, will stream live on the Telemundo Deportes En Vivo app and TelemundoDeportes.com. Coverage on NBCSN will be live streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
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ÜBER COMBATE AMERIKA
Combate Americas ist die erste hispanische Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Sport-Franchise, schnell zu der Nummer zwei Sport, nach Fußball, für Spanisch sprechenden weltweiten Sportfans. Die Combate Americas Franchise umfasst Reality-TV-Programmierung, Live-Events und mobile Programmier. Der CEO des Unternehmens, Campbell McLaren, wird allgemein als der Mitbegründer / Co-Schöpfer der Ultimate Fighting Championship erkannt (UFC). New York Magazine beschrieben als McLaren “die Marketing-Genie hinter der UFC” und Yahoo! Sport verkündet, dass er “weiß mehr über den Sport, als nur etwa jeder in sie heute.” Mit einer beispiellosen Produkt- und Blue-Chip-Eigentum und Management-Team, Combate Amerika ist bereit, neue Wege zu gehen und bewirken eine neue Ära in der Weltmeisterschaftsniveau MMA Wettbewerb. |