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,” one-night, eight-man bantamweight (135 phaus) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tournament that will award its winner a grand prize of $100,000, live on both Telemundo and NBCSN from Cancun, Mexico on Saturday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 11 ntawm 11:30 p.m. THIAB/10:30 p.m. I.
Cov kev tshwm sim, 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, Argentina.
Ntawm 36 xyoo, 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 phaus) in his native Argentina.
A former semifinalist on Qhov kawg Fighter: Latin America reality television series, Rojo has produced 10 ntawm nws 12 hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm (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 "Lub Gallero" Palacios (9-1) ntawm lub hom phiaj, Texas, will clash with fast-rising star Carlos “Lobo” Rivera (12-2) ntawm Mexico City, Mexico.
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 rau Plaub Hlis Ntuj 20, thiab ib tug unanimous kev txiav txim siab dua Chris Avila rau Lub Xya hli ntuj 27.
Rivera is a 24-year-old member of the famed “Bonebreakers” fight squad. He has produced 8 ntawm nws 10 kev ua hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm (T)KO los yog cuav, 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 “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (14-2) ntawm Mankato, Los ntawm. will battle national Muay Thai champion Kevin “El Frio” Moreyra (4-1) of 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 President Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series rau Lub yim hli ntuj 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, sib ntaus sib tua-kuaj, 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) of Bogota.
Ntawm cia li 25 xyoo ntawm hnub nyoog, Gómez has already racked up 30 kev bouts, making him the most experienced of the tournament field and, ntawm nws 20 hauj lwm victories, an astonishing 17 tau tuaj los ntawm txoj kev ntawm (T)KO los yog cuav.
Ayala is a gutsy, 27-year-old striker who also boasts a spectacular finish rate, nrog 9 ntawm nws 11 career conquests having come by way of (T)KO los yog cuav. 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 phaus) co-main event between undefeated knockout artist Melissa “Super Melly” Martinez (2-0) ntawm Mexico City, Mexico, and submission expert and Miesha Tate pupil Gloria “Gloriosa” Bravo (4-2) of 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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HAIS TXOG COMBATE teb chaws Amelikas no
Combate Americas is the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, rapidly becoming the number two sport, after soccer, for Spanish speaking sports fans worldwide. The Combate Americas franchise includes reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming. The company’s CEO, Campbell McLaren, is universally recognized as the co-founder/co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine described McLaren as “lub lag luam ntse heev tom qab lub UFC” thiab Yahoo! Cov kev ua si hais tias hais tias nws “paub ntau ntxiv txog cov kev ua si nawv tshaj yog hais txog leej twg nyob rau hauv nws hnub no.” With an unprecedented product and a blue-chip ownership and management team, Combate Americas is poised to break new ground and bring about a new era in world championship level MMA competition. |