Combate Estrellas I 4/13, Combate Estrellas II 4/20
Campbell McLaren: “As the creative force behind MMA, which is in its 25th year of existence, I am poised for Combate Americas to take our great sport into the next era.”
Combate Americas “Combate Estrellas I” the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts sports franchise’s first live television event of 2018, will take place at Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California on Friday, April 13. Estrellas I is the first event of a two-part series featuring a collection of Combate Americas’ top estrellas, or stars.
“Combate Estrellas II,” the second installment of a two-part, live television event series, will take place at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, on Friday, April 20.
Headlining the 10-bout Estrellas I card will be a much-anticipated, bantamweight rematch between John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (16-3) and Marc “Lufo” Gomez (21-11). The second meeting between Castaneda of Mankato, Minn. and Gomez of Barcelona, Spain comes after the two collided in the semifinal stage of the inaugural “COPA COMBATE,” one-night, eight-man, $100,000 grand prize tournament that saw Castaneda advance to the championship stage of the historic event in Cancun, Mexico on November 11, 2017 after being awarded a unanimous decision over Gomez.
In the co-main event, five-division world boxing champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (0-0) of Brooklyn, N.Y. will make her long-awaited MMA rules debut against Erendira “Aketzaly” Ordoñez (2-1) of Mexico City, Mexico in a flyweight contest.
“As the creative force behind MMA, which is in its 25th year of existence, I am poised for Combate Americas to take our great sport into the next era with our estrellas from the U.S., Mexico, Spain and around Latin America,” said Campbell McLaren, CEO of Combate Americas.
Leading off the three-bout live televised main card, will be a featherweight matchup between hard-hitting knockout artist Jose “Froggy” Estrada (4-1) of Oxnard, Calif. and an opponent to be determined.
“Combate Estrellas II” will be headlined by a bantamweight showdown featuring the homecoming of Monterrey native and world-ranked superstar, Erik “Goyito” Perez (17-6), making his much-anticipated Combate Americas promotional debut in a rematch against U.S. battler and old rival David “D.J.” Fuentes (13-10).
Fuentes, who fights out of McAllen, Texas, defeated Perez by way of third round (3:01) submission (armlock) when the two met on May 28, 2010.
“We are excited to bring Combate Americas to Monterrey, one of the world’s great fight cities, for the first time ever, and to bring one of its most decorated athletes – Erik “Goyito” Perez – home to his fans,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.
In the bantamweight co-main event, Levy Saul “El Negro” Marroquin (11-2) of Monterrey will return to action on the heels of his historic and memorable victory of the inaugural “COPA COMBATE” one-night, eight-man, $100,000 grand prize tournament last November 11, to square off with rival, fast-rising star Alejandro “Gallito” Flores (11-1), also of Monterrey.
Marroquin became an overnight Cinderella story in Cancun when he defeated three consecutive opponents – Carlos “Lobo” Rivera (10-3) of Mexico, Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo (13-5) of Argentina and John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (16-3) of the U.S. – to become the 2017 “COPA COMBATE” tournament champion.
Leading off the three-bout live televised main card will be a women’s strawweight matchup between undefeated Melissa “Super Mely” Martinez (3-0) of Mexico City, Mexico, and Francis Hernandez (2-2) of Camuy, Puerto Rico.