Tag Archives: Ryan Lilley

“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

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

THREE TITLE MATCHES FOR FIGHT NIGHT 10 AT CLUB NOKIA AT L.A. LIVE, MAY 31

Los Angeles, CA – The University of MMA marks its latest milestone on Sunday, May 31, with the tenth installment of its ‘Fight Night’ series. Taking place at Club Nokia at L.A. LIVE (aka “the U of MMA campus”), University of MMA: Fight Night 10 is packed with 15 fights, including three title matches to crown new University of MMA champions. Tickets are now on sale atwww.UofMMA.com and www.axs.com.

 

A new University of MMA’s lightweight champion will be decided between Julio ‘The Gr818er’ Lopez (Kings Combat Sports) and Antonio Lopez (Gooch Training Academy/Saekson Muay Thai). Julio advanced from the opening round of the University of MMA lightweight championship tournament, still undefeated. Antonio was originally scheduled to be in the tournament as well, before injury sidelined him from action. But both men ride four-fight win streaks going into this title match, meaning pride and glory are on the line.

 

With Elite Training Center’s featherweight star Tommy Aaron vacating his University of MMA title to turn pro, the crown at 145 lbs. once again finds itself without a king. That won’t be for long, however, as U of MMA perennial favorite Ryan ‘The Lion’ Lilley (Bas Rutten’s Elite Training Center) and the fast-rising Albert Veloz (Cage Combat Academy) vie to become the third-ever University of MMA featherweight champion.

“The University of MMA has definitely grown as a live event series with the expansion of our fan base and the shows getting bigger and better every time.  The same can be said for amateur fighters who have grown and matured within our promotion. Guys like Ryan ‘The Lion’ Lilley who will be fighting for us for the eighth time, and Albert Veloz, who is improving right under our eyes. We’re proud to see the development of fighters like Ryan and Albert, who will go on to be great pros,” commented U of MMA founder Turi Altavilla.

Two more U of MMA favorites will also square off to become the first-ever University of MMA bantamweight champion, as Vince ‘The Anomaly’ Cachero and Demar ‘King’ George revisit each other in a rematch from 2013. The two met originally at Fight Night 3, when both were very young in their MMA careers. More seasoned in experience and sharper in skill, they are very much different fighters.

 

“The six individuals vying for University of MMA titles on this show are people of heart, technical skill, character and integrity. We’ve seen their championship efforts on previous shows and they deserve the recognition these matches offer,” said U of MMA matchmaker Jay Tan.

 

Other confirmed matches for University of MMA: Fight Night 10 include:

 

University of MMA Lightweight Championship Tournament Finals:

155 lbs. – Julio Lopez (Kings Combat Sports) vs.Antonio Lopez (Gooch Training Academy/Saekson Muay Thai)

 

University of MMA Bantamweight Championship:

135 lbs. – Vince ‘The Anomaly’ Cachero (Systems Training Center) vs. Demar ‘King’ George (Dream Killer Fight Team)

 

University of MMA Featherweight Championship:

145 lbs. – Ryan ‘The Lion’ Lilley (Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA Gym) vs. Albert Veloz (Cage Combat Academy)

 

155 lbs. – Remington Thorne (Saekson Muay Thai) vs.Carnation ‘The Flash’ Contreras (Krav Maga Unyted)

 

120 lbs. (catchweight) – Jasmine ‘Tapout Queen’ Pouncy (Nubians MMA) vs. Akari Wang (Systems Training Center)

 

205 lbs. – Travis Williams (Elite Training Center) vs.Jonathan ‘Jonny McGregor’ Sweitzer (Valhalla ETC)

 

155 lbs. – Troy Hargrow (Nubians MMA) vs. Zach Kraschinsky (Bas Rutten’s Elite Training Center)

 

125 lbs. – Karlee Pagilinan (Team Quest) vs. Gilbert Nakatani (Sityodtong LA)

 

125 lbs. – Matheus Leaondro Santos (MMAFC) vs.Angel Diaz (Systems Training Center)

 

170 lbs. – Aaron Landry (Ring of Fire Martial Arts Academy) vs. Lance ‘The Black Ranger’ Bush (Team Lagarto)

 

145 lbs. – Victor Rivera (Nubians MMA) vs. Juan Vasquez (Team Victory Muay Thai/Dream Killer Fight Team)

 

195 lbs. (catchweight) – Christopher Llanes (Team Quest) vs. David Boyko (Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA Gym)

 

145 lbs. – Andrew Secaida (Dream Killer Fight Team)vs. Kurt Eberhard (Saekson Muay Thai)

 

135 lbs. – David Perez (Riverside Submission) vs. Julio Santa Cruz (Systems Training Center)

 

145 lbs. – Benito Mendez (Kings Combat Sports) vs.Sergio Gonzalez (Yuma United Fight Team)

 

The University of MMA: Fight Night 10 takes place at5:00pm on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Club Nokia at L.A. LIVE, 800 West Olympic Boulevard. Doors open at 4:30pm. Fight card is subject to change. Tickets are now available and can be purchased through www.UofMMA.com andwww.AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or 888-929-7849, and from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Mon-Fri at the STAPLES Center Box Office located at 1111 S. Figueroa St. Applicable fees may apply. The Club Nokia box office will open at 2:00pm the day of the event.