Kyra Batara fights Paulina Granado in a 105-pound title contenders main event at Combate Americas 19 tonight in San Antonio, Texas. She’s had a tough year.
2017 was pretty bumpy for me, said Batara to Mick Hammond for MMAWeekly.com. I was supposed to fight in February, but I missed weight and my opponent didn’t want to take the fight, so it got postponed until July. We finally got to fight in July and I got the outcome I wanted.
I was supposed to fight in September but had to pull out with a foot injury. I was supposed to be on the Cancun card, but then that didn’t work out. Three fights didn’t work out for me this year, but I’m hoping to get in this last one to finish the year strong.
Personally, I love obstacles. I feel if I get them out of the way early in my career, and being able to overcome them, it really shows me how much I’m growing as a person and a fighter. I’ve taken all these as learning experiences.
It’s a lot different than a regular fight. This girl disrespected my mom. For me, if you know me, I’m all about family, so when someone disrespects my family, I take it to a different level.
I think it’s going to be more of a hunger for this fight, but once I get in the cage I let those emotions go. I think it’s good to push me during camp, but I know as soon as I get into the cage it’s another fight and another day in the office, and another opportunity to prove I’m the No. 1 ranked (atomweight) fighter in Combate Americas.
Paulina comes from a very strong Muay Thai background, whereas people know I’m much stronger on the ground. I think she’s going to try to take my head off.
I think Paulina’s strategy is going to try take her shots and try to use her length against me and work her combos, but I’m still going to get that takedown and get that submission. I know as soon as we get to the ground that’s my world.”
The Combate 19 main card will air live on Telemundo at 12 a.m. ET/11 p.m. CT, while the prelim fights streamong live on the Telemundo Deportes En Vivo App and TelemundoDeportes.com, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Main Card (Telemundo)
Kyra Batara (4-2), Las Vegas, NV vs. Paulina Granados (4-2), Corpus Christi, TX
Andres Quintana (12-2), Albuquerque, NM vs. Rey Trujillo (21-19), Houston, TX
Daniel Rodriguez (4-0), Los Angeles, CA vs. Victor Reyna (9-3), Dallas, TX
Prelim Card (Telemundo Deportes En Vivo App and TelemundoDeportes.com)
Ray Rodriguez (12-4), San Antonio, TX vs. Michael Rodriguez (8-5), Donna, TX
Vanesa Rico (2-3), Alicante, Spain vs. Brenda Enriquez (1-0), Salt Lake City, UT
David Jesus Fuentes (12-10), McAllen, TX vs. Joel Scott (6-6), Port Arthur, TX
Heinrich Wassmer (6-1), Los Angeles, CA vs. Juan Deantes (3-0), Harlingen, TX
Javier Obregon (11-14), Ft. Worth, TX vs. Jose Ceja (4-4), Port Arthur, TX
David Miramontes (3-2), San Antonio, TX vs. Federico David Olivera (2-4), Irving, TX
Fernando Rodriguez (2-0), San Antonio, TX vs. Jesse Almaraz (1-2), San Antonio, TX
