HISTORIC EXTRAVAGANZA PITS WORLD-CLASS FIGHTERS FROM
THE U.S., LATIN AMERICA AND SPAIN AGAINST EACH OTHER
IN CANCUN, MEXICO
CANCUN, MX – November 7, 2017 - Combate Américas announced earlier the official matchups for the quarterfinal, or opening stage, of the highly-anticipated “COPA COMBATE," una noche, de ocho hombres de peso gallo (135 libra) Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) tournament that will award its winner a grand prize of $100,000, live on both Telemundo and NBCSN from Cancun, México en Sábado, Noviembre 11 en 11:30 p.m. Y/10:30 p.m. Connecticut.
El evento, 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) de San Juan, Puerto Rico will take on red-hot Marcelo “The Pitbull” Rojo (12-4) from Cordoba, Argentina.
En 36 años, 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 libra) in his native Argentina.
A former semifinalist on The Ultimate Fighter: America latina serie de televisión de la realidad, Rojo has produced 10 de su 12 triunfos en su carrera a través de (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 “El Gallero” Palacios (9-1) de Misión, Texas, will clash with fast-rising star Carlos “Lobo” Rivera (12-2) de la Ciudad de México, México.
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 Román Salazar en Abril 20, y una decisión unánime sobre Chris Ávila en Julio 27.
Rivera is a 24-year-old member of the famed “Bonebreakers” fight squad. He has produced 8 de su 10 carrera profesional gana por medio de (T)KO o sumisión, 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" Castañeda (14-2) de Mankato, Desde. will battle national Muay Thai champion Kevin “El Frio” Moreyra (4-1) de Lima, Perú.
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 Tiffany Cheyden in UFC President Serie de contendientes de martes por la noche de Dana White en Agosto 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, batalla probado, 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) de Bogotá.
Con sólo 25 año de edad, Gómez has already racked up 30 peleas profesionales, making him the most experienced of the tournament field and, de su 20 victorias en su carrera, an astonishing 17 han llegado a través de (T)KO o sumisión.
Ayala is a gutsy, 27-year-old striker who also boasts a spectacular finish rate, con 9 de su 11 career conquests having come by way of (T)KO o sumisión. 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 libra) co-main event between undefeated knockout artist Melissa "Super Melly" Martínez (2-0) de la Ciudad de México, México, and submission expert and miesha Tate alumno Gloria “Gloriosa” Bravo (4-2) de 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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ACERCA DE COMBATE AMÉRICAS
Combate las Américas es artes marciales mixtas hispanos de primera (MMA) franquicia deportiva, convirtiendo rápidamente en el número dos deportes, después del fútbol, para hablar español aficionados a los deportes en todo el mundo. La franquicia de Combate Américas incluye programación de televisión realidad, eventos en vivo y programación móvil. El CEO de la compañía, Campbell McLaren, es universalmente reconocido como el co-fundador / co-creador de la Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine describió como McLaren “el genio de marketing detrás de la UFC” y Yahoo! Deportes proclamaron que él “sabe más sobre el deporte que casi todo el mundo en la actualidad.” Con un producto sin precedentes y una propiedad y la gestión de equipos de primer orden, Combate Américas está a punto de abrir nuevos caminos y lograr una nueva era en el nivel del campeonato del mundo de competencia MMA. |