HISTORIC EXTRAVAGANZA PITS WORLD-CLASS FIGHTERS FROM
THE U.S., LATIN AMERICA AND SPAIN AGAINST EACH OTHER
IN CANCUN, MESSICO
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 notte, otto uomini gallo (135 libbre) Arti marziali miste (MMA) tournament that will award its winner a grand prize of $100,000, live on both Telemundo and NBCSN from Cancun, Messico Sabato, Novembre 11 a 11:30 p.m. E/10:30 p.m. CT.
L'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) da San Juan, Puerto Rico will take on red-hot Marcelo “The Pitbull” Rojo (12-4) from Cordoba, Argentina.
A 36 anni, 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 libbre) in his native Argentina.
A former semifinalist on The Ultimate Fighter: America Latina reality television series, Rojo has produced 10 della sua 12 carriera vince a titolo di (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) di Mission, Texas, will clash with fast-rising star Carlos "Lobo" Rivera (12-2) di Città del Messico, Messico.
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 su Aprile 20, e una decisione unanime su Chris Avila su Luglio 27.
Rivera is a 24-year-old member of the famed “Bonebreakers” fight squad. He has produced 8 della sua 10 carriera professionale vince titolo (T)KO o sottomissione, 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) di Mankato, Da. will battle national Muay Thai champion Kevin “El Frio” Moreyra (4-1) di Lima, Perù.
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 Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series su 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, battaglia-testato, 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) di Bogotà.
A soli 25 anni, Gómez has already racked up 30 attacchi professionali, making him the most experienced of the tournament field and, della sua 20 vittorie in carriera, an astonishing 17 sono venuti a titolo di (T)KO o sottomissione.
Ayala is a gutsy, 27-year-old striker who also boasts a spectacular finish rate, con 9 della sua 11 career conquests having come by way of (T)KO o sottomissione. 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 libbre) co-main event between undefeated knockout artist Melissa "Super Melly" Martinez (2-0) di Città del Messico, Messico, and submission expert and Miesha Tate pupil Gloria "Gloriosa" Bravo (4-2) di 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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CIRCA combate AMERICAS
Combate Americas è la principale arti marziali miste ispaniche (MMA) franchising sportivo, diventando rapidamente lo sport numero due, dopo il calcio, per gli appassionati di sport di lingua spagnola in tutto il mondo. Il franchise Combate Americhe include programmazione reality, eventi live e la programmazione mobili. Il CEO della società, Campbell McLaren, è universalmente riconosciuto come il co-fondatore / co-creatore del campionato Ultimate Fighting (UFC). New York Magazine ha descritto come la McLaren “il genio del marketing dietro l'UFC” e Yahoo! Sport proclamarono che egli “sa di più su questo sport di chiunque a oggi.” Con un prodotto senza precedenti e di una proprietà e di gestione squadra blu-chip, Combate America è pronta ad aprire nuove strade e portare una nuova era nel livello di campionato del mondo della concorrenza MMA. |