Category Archives: Combate Americas

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

“SEXY MEXY” AND UFC® VET DANNY MARTINEZ STEP IN FOR INJURED FIGHTERS IN MAIN AND CO-MAIN EVENT BOUTS AT COMBATE AMERICAS ON THURSDAY, AUG. 11, LIVE ON UFC FIGHT PASS® FROM LOS ANGELES

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New featherweight main event:
John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda replaces injured Erick Sanchez against Angel Cruz

New flyweight co-main event:
Danny Martinez in for injured Jonathan Martinez against Benjamin Vinson

NEW YORK – August 4, 2016 – Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, today announced new main event and co-main event matchups for its 10-bout fight card that will air live on UFC FIGHT PASS® from The Exchange in Los Angeles, Calif. onThursday, Aug. 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.

Streaking star John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (10-2) will step in for Erick Sanchez, who suffered a staph infection, and face off with Angel “Tito” Cruz(5-2) in the featherweight (145 pounds) main event at “Aspira A Mas Presents Combate Americas: CombateOCHO,” while four-time UFC® veteran Danny “The Gremlin” Martinez will replace a hurt (knee injury) Jonathan Martinez(19-7) in the flyweight (125 pounds) co-main event contest with Benjamin Vinson (8-3-1).

In addition, the planned women’s atomweight (105 pounds) matchup between Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (5-3) and Lisa Ellis (15-10) has been scrapped due to a hamstring injury sustained by Batara.

“We wish Erick, Jonathan and Kyra speedy and full recoveries, and have the utmost respect for John Castaneda and Danny Martinez, two ferocious warriors who did not hesitate to accept our offers to face super tough opponents in the top two fights on our card, on short notice,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.

The 24-year-old Castaneda of Mankato, Minn. is riding a five-fight win streak, the last three of which came inside the Combate Americas cage, or “La Jaula.”

To date, the fast-rising star who normally competes at bantamweight (135 pounds), but who began his career as a featherweight, has notched 7 of his 10 professional career wins by way of (T)KO or submission.

Martinez of Chula Vista, Calif. will see action for the first time since his unanimous decision win over Richie Vaculik at UFC 193 last November 14.

The 31-year-old finisher, originally hailing from Tempe, Ariz., has earned 14 of his 19 career victories by way of (T)KO or submission.

Tickets for “Aspira A Mas Presents Combate Americas: CombateOCHO,” priced from $40, are on sale at ItsMySeat.com as well as at The Exchange box office. UFC FIGHT PASS is available on: personal computers, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Sony TVs with Android TV and Roku devices.

Doors at the Exchange LA open for the event at 5:30 p.m. PT, and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 6 p.m.  The live UFC FIGHT PASS stream will commence at 6:30 p.m.

COMBATE AMERICAS: CombateOCHO

Featherweight Main Event:
John Castaneda vs. Angel Cruz

Flyweight Co-Main Event:
Danny Ramirez vs. Benjamin Vinson

Flyweight:  Heinrich Wassmer vs. Benji Gomez
Featherweight:  Izic Fernandez vs. Marcos Bonilla
Flyweight:  Jonathan Santa Maria vs. Albert Tapia
Featherweight:  Jonathan Quiroz vs. Ryan Lilley
Lightweight:  Jose Estrada vs. Christian Cardona
Lightweight:  Erick Gonzalez vs. Yoandy Carrillo
Welterweight:  Daniel Rodriguez vs. Hector Saldana
Welterweight:  George Hernandez vs. Hakob Ter Petrosyan
Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

UFC SUPERSTAR JULIANNA PEÑA, DANNY CASTILLO TO HOST FIRST-EVER COMBATE AMERICAS OPEN FIGHTER TRYOUT IN LOS ANGELES ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

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PRE-REGISTRATION PROCESS UNDERWAY
ON COMBATEAMERICAS.COM

TRYOUT TAKES PLACE TWO DAYS FOLLOWING
COMBATE AMERICAS LIVE EVENT ON UFC FIGHT PASS®

NEW YORK – August 2, 2016 – Combate Americas today announced that reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC) women’s bantamweight (135 pounds) superstar Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña, along with 14-time UFC veteran and Team Alpha Male standout Danny “Last Call” Castillo and journalist Andrea Calle, will host the first-ever open tryout for the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, in Los Angeles, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 13.

All men and women, ages 18 and over, who are interested in participating in the tryout with the opportunity to earn a multi-fight promotional agreement with Combate Americas, can pre-register online at www.CombateAmericas.com.

Castillo and Calle will preside over the event, while Peña, along with Combate Americas referee Mike Beltran and Combate Americas Fight Director Mel Valenzuela, will comprise the panel of judges for the tryout that will take place two days after the much-anticipated, 10-bout “Aspira A Mas Presents Combate Americas: Combate OCHO” event, live on UFC FIGHT PASS® from Exchange LA.

“We are on an aggressive hunt to give undiscovered, hungry talent the opportunity to shine on our big stage, and hosting an open tryout in one of the major cities of the U.S. that is also a hotbed for combat sports is one of the best ways to achieve this,” said Combate Americas CEO and UFC co-founder Campbell McLaren.

The tryout process will begin at 12 p.m. and will put candidates through a variety of drills testing speed, endurance and strength.

Basic boxing, kickboxing and grappling skills will also be examined.

Priced from $40, tickets for the “Aspira A Mas Presents Combate Americas: Combate Ocho,” 10-bout event are on sale at ItsMySeat.com as well as at The Exchange box office. UFC FIGHT PASS is available on personal computers, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV and Roku devices.

In the featherweight (145 pounds) main event, Urijah Faber protégé Erick Sanchez (7-2) of Sacramento, Calif. will look for his third win in the Combate Americas cage, or “La Jaula,” and fourth consecutive victory overall when he squares off with dangerous finisher Angel “Tito” Cruz (5-2) of Rio Piedras, P.R.

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ABOUT COMBATE AMERICAS
Combate Americas, LLC. is the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history, designed to build Latino fighting champions and serve Hispanic fans, one of the world’s most avid groups of prize fighting enthusiasts.  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 “the marketing genius behind the UFC” and Yahoo! Sports proclaimed that he “knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today.”  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.
Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA, UFC

COMBATE AMERICAS RETURNS TO UFC FIGHT PASS® WITH HARD-HITTING, HISPANIC MMA ACTION LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 11

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NEW YORK – July 14, 2016 – Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, today announced its return to UFC FIGHT PASS® with a stacked, 10-bout fight card that will air live from The Exchange in Los Angeles, Calif. on Thursday, Aug. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for “Aspira A Mas Presents Combate Americas: Combate Ocho,” priced from $40, are on sale at ItsMySeat.com as well as at The Exchange box office. UFC FIGHT PASS is available on personal computers, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV and Roku devices.

In the featherweight (145 pounds) main event, Urijah Faber protégé Erick Sanchez (7-2) of Sacramento, Calif. will look for his third win in the Combate Americas cage, or “La Jaula,” and fourth consecutive victory overall when he squares off with dangerous finisher Angel “Tito” Cruz (5-2) of Rio Piedras, P.R.

In the women’s atomweight (105 pounds) co-main event, emerging star Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (5-3) of Las Vegas, Nev. will collide with battle-tested veteran Lisa Ellis (15-10) of Olympia, Wash.

“We are excited to be back in action on UFC FIGHT PASS with a tremendous fight card featuring the best, up-and-coming Hispanic fighters in the U.S., some of whom have been climbing the ranks with explosive performances under our promotion since last year and others whom we recently recruited because of their outstanding results elsewhere,” said McLaren.

In other action on the five-fight main card, ferocious knockout artist Jonathan “Dragon” Martinez (8-1) of Plainview, Texas will battle fellow finisherBenjamin Vinson (8-3-1) of Portland, Ore. in a flyweight (125 pounds) contest.

Another flyweight matchup will see undefeated, submission ace Heinrich “Ricky Scraps” Wassmer (4-0) of Los Angeles put his perfect record on the line against dangerous puncher Benji “The Brawler” Gomez (5-5) of Oxnard, Calif.

Izic Fernandez (2-1) of Santa Ana, Calif. and Marcos Bonilla (3-2) of Los Angeles will face off in a featherweight scrap.

In preliminary card action, Yoandy Carrillo (1-0) of Naples, Fla. will battleErick Gonzalez (4-1) of Los Angeles.

Carrillo, the cousin of former World Boxing Association (WBA) world lightweight champion Richar Abril, is coming off a devastating, second round (:19) knockout (punches) of George Hernandez at Combate Americas onApril 25.

Gonzalez, who has notched three of his four professional career wins by way of (T)KO, was also victorious at the Combate Americas event on April 25, earning a split decision over Victor Martinez.

In another lightweight preliminary bout, Jose “Froggy” Estrada (1-0) of Oxnard, Calif. will return to action after his explosive debut in La Jaula, in which the 25-year-old scored a highlight reel, first round (1:44) knockout (punch) on Jonathan Quiroz on April 18, and collide with Christian Cardona(0-1) of Las Vegas, Nev.

Elsewhere on the preliminary bout card, Jonathan Santa Maria (3-3) of Whittier, Calif. will face Albert Tapia (3-5) of Huntington Beach, Calif. in a flyweight affair.

Unbeaten Daniel Rodriguez (1-0) of Alhambra, Calif. will meet Hector Saldana (1-2) of Murrieta, Calif.

The final undercard bout will be announced soon.
Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS ACTION HEATS UP WITH WEEKLY MMA FIGHT SERIES ON NBC UNIVERSO, BEGINNING MONDAY, APRIL 18

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THIRTY FIGHTS IN THIRTY DAYS!

NEW YORK – March 28, 2015 – Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise founded by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-creator Campbell McLaren, today announced the return of its epic, action-packed “Road To the Championship” fight series to NBC UNIVERSO, the modern entertainment and sports cable channel for Latinos, with a weekly, one-hour program, beginning Monday, April 18, at 12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT, from Los Angeles, Calif.

A total of 30 bouts featuring the most fearsome, emerging Hispanic MMA fighters, including Imagen Award-winning Combate Americas reality series contestant and professional boxer Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (5-1 MMA, 2-0-1 boxing), Urijah Faber protégé Erick Sanchez (6-2), John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (9-2) and women’s atomweight standout and Eddie Bravo pupil Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (4-3), will unfold over the course of a 30-day period.

“We are thrilled to be featured in a new, weekly slot that will allow us to continuously showcase the best and most exciting young Hispanic fighters and future world champions” said McLaren.

“Since we launched our franchise,” continued McLaren, “NBC Universo has played an instrumental part in helping Combate Americas engage a national Hispanic audience, so we look forward to returning to their incredible platform, and entertaining and inspiring new and existing MMA fans throughout the U.S.

“Combate Americas is a great place for fighters of Latin backgrounds to shine in front of martial arts fans”, said Bilai Joa Silar, Senior Vice President of Programming and Production at NBC Universo. “It’s very exciting to have another season of Combate Americas on NBC Universo. We’re sure our audience will be thrilled with each fight scheduled since they will all feature top notch fighters.”

Additional participating fighters and matchups will be announced soon, as will the Los Angeles location for the kick-off event and host venues for subsequent events.

The first weekly show on April 18 will mark the third event in the “Road To The Championship” series.  Following the sixth event in the series, which kicked off on September 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nev., the most successful competitors in each weight class will be placed in the first Combate Americas world championship bouts in history.
Combate Americas, NBC

REY MYSTERIO NAMED COMBATE AMERICAS AMBASSADOR; WILL DEBUT LIVE ON NBC UNIVERSO ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16

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Former WWE star Konnan to serve as color commentator for live telecast of Combate Americas “Road To The Championship Hollywood”

Live, four-fight NBC UNIVERSO telecast begins at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT
on Wednesday, Dec. 16

Official fighter weigh-in takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Burbank, Calif.

NEW YORK – December 9, 2015 – Decorated, former three-time WWE world champion Rey Mysterio has been named ambassador of Combate Americas, the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history founded by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-creator Campbell McLaren, and will debut in his new role at the much-anticipated “Road To The Championship Hollywood,” nine-bout professional fight card live on NBC UNIVERSO, the modern entertainment and sports cable channel for Latinos, onWednesday, Dec. 16 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In addition, former WWF and WCW superstar Konnan, often referred to as the “Mexican Hulk Hogan,” will serve as color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Ricardo Celis and Andrea Calle, the hostess of the Imagen Award-winning Combate Americas reality television series.

“I am excited to join Combate Americas on NBC UNIVERSO, and look forward to building this incredible MMA sports brand and supporting the extremely talented athletes on its growing roster,” said Mysterio, whose exciting, high-flying style of wrestling helped him earn a total of 21 championships between his stints in the WWE and WCW.

“Combate Americas embraces the great Mexican tradition of Lucha Libre, so we are honored to bring Rey Mysterio, a global icon and one of the premier Hispanic figures in sports entertainment, on board as our ambassador and are confident that he can inspire our fans and fighters,” said McLaren.

Among the collection of rival superstars that Mysterio has defeated during his career are C.M. Punk, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle.  During an epic 2006 Royal Rumble Match, he battled for more than one hour, a WWE record for longest time spent in the ring, and dumped the likes of Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam andTriple H on his way to victory of the 30-man elimination contest.

Priced from $40, tickets for “Premier Insurance Services and Aspira Mas Present Combate Americas: Road To The Championship Hollywood,” are on sale atwww.HollywoodFightNight.com.

All fighters will weigh-in for the event on Tuesday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5 p.m. PTat The Marriott, located at 2500 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank, Calif.  All 18 fighters competing on the nine-bout card will weigh in for their respective bouts.

In the bantamweight (135 pounds) main event of the live, four-fight telecast on NBC Universo, 23-year-old sensation John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (8-2) of Mankato, Minn., fresh off his victory at the inaugural “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship” event in Las Vegas, Nev. on September 17, will square off with fellow striking sensation Federico “Kiko” Lopez (10-5) of Murrieta, Calif.

Castaneda is looking for his fourth consecutive win while Lopez is seeking his sixth straight win.

In the bantamweight co-main event, Combate Americas reality television series star and power puncher Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (5-1), of Mission, Texas will square off with dangerous scrapper Anthony Paredes (3-2) of Murrieta, Calif.

In a featured women’s atomweight (105 pounds) attraction on the live telecast, 21-year-old Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (3-3) will collide with fellow Las Vegas resident“Lightning Liz McCarthy (2-3).

The live NBC UNIVERSO telecast will kick off with a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup between Urijah Faber protégé and prolific finisher Erick Sanchez (5-2) of Sacramento, Calif. and fellow rising star “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (3-3) of Las Vegas.

Doors at Florentine Gardens open at 5 p.m. PT for the event, and the first of five preliminary bouts will begin at 6 p.m.
Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS HITS HOLLYWOOD!

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First U.S. Hispanic MMA franchise brings live televised
“Road To The Championship” fight series to Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 16

“Sexy Mexy” faces “Kiko” Lopez in bantamweight main event
Ricky Palacios battles Anthony Paredes in bantamweight co-main event

Kyra Batara squares off with Liz McCarthy in women’s atomweight action

Live, four-fight NBC UNIVERSO telecast begins at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT

Tickets on sale now

NEW YORK – December 1, 2015 – Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise founded by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-creator Campbell McLaren, today announced that it will make its debut in Los Angeles, Calif. with a stellar, nine-bout fight card at Florentine Gardens, live on NBC UNIVERSO, the modern entertainment and sports cable channel for Latinos, on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

“This event represents Combate Americas coming of age, and presenting a lineup that is second to none with a collection of the brightest up-and-coming Hispanic fighters in the U.S.,” said McLaren.

Priced from $40, tickets for “Premier Insurance Services and Aspira Mas Present Combate Americas: Road To The Championship Hollywood,” are on sale atwww.HollywoodFightNight.com.

In the bantamweight (135 pounds) main event of the live, four-fight telecast on NBC Universo, John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda, fresh off his victory at the inaugural “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship” event in Las Vegas, Nev. on September 17, will square off with fellow striking sensation Federico “Kiko” Lopez.

The 23-year-old Castaneda (8-2), a seasoned striker who hails from Mankato, Minn., earned his third consecutive victory in the form of a unanimous decision over Justin Governale in the Combate Americas cage.

A 31-year-old member of Team Quest, Lopez (10-5) of Murrieta, Calif. is riding a five fight win streak, with four of those victories having come by way of either (T)KO or submission.

In the bantamweight co-main event, Combate Americas reality television series star and power puncher Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios will square off with dangerous scrapper Anthony Paredes of Murrieta.

Palacios (5-1), a 28-year-old resident of Mission, Texas who also boasts an unblemished professional boxing record of 2-0-1, scored a thunderous, first round (1:00) KO on Benji Gomez with a head kick at the “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship” event on September 17, while the 26-year-old Paredes, another member of Team Quest, is looking to return to the win column after suffering a loss in July that snapped a two-fight win streak.

In a featured women’s atomweight (105 pounds) attraction on the live telecast,Kyra “Mogwai” Batara will collide with “Lightning Liz McCarthy.

Fighting out of Las Vegas, Batara (3-3) is a 21-year-old protégé of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guru Eddie Bravo.  During the “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship” event in Las Vegas, Batara pulled off a stunning upset win via unanimous decision over Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc, a former world championship challenger with five times as many professional bouts as Batara.

The 29-year-old McCarthy (2-3), also fighting out of Las Vegas, is a four-time veteran of Invicta FC, the world’s premier all-women’s MMA league.   Prior to her professional debut at Invicta FC 2 where she defeated Jessica Philippus by way of first round (5:00) TKO (doctor stoppage) on July 28, 2012, McCarthy amassed a perfect, 6-0 record as an amateur.

The live NBC UNIVERSO telecast will kick off with a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup between Urijah Faber protégé and prolific finisher Erick Sanchez (5-2) of Sacramento, Calif. and fellow rising star “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (3-3) of Las Vegas.

The complete, five-bout preliminary card for “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship Hollywood” will be announced soon.

Doors at Florentine Gardens open at 5 p.m. PT for the event, and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m.