Combate Americas today announced its return to Fresno, Calif. for the third time this year, with another spectacular Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) lineup presented by Cricket Wireless, live on television in the U.S. on Univision (12 a.m. ET/11 p.m. CT) and TUDN (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT), and in Mexico on Televisa Canal 5 (11 p.m. CDT) and TUDN Mexico (11 p.m. CDT) from Save Mart Center on Friday, Nov. 22.
Priced from $25, tickets for the Combate Americas event presented by Cricket Wireless are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
In the lightweight (155 pounds) main event between two fast-rising stars, Ignacio “Nacho” Bahamondes (9-2) will square off with Salvador Becerra (7-2).
A featured, women’s strawweight (115 pounds) contest also announced today will pit the tenacious Corina Herrera (4-4-1) against Caroline “Taz” Gallardo (3-3).
“The city of Fresno and its fans have been incredible hosts to us throughout the year, so we are going to show our appreciation by delivering Combate Americas’ brand of Mucha Mas Acción, in partnership with Cricket Wireless, one more time at Save Mart Center before 2019 comes to an end,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.
The 22-year-old Bahamondes of Santiago, Chile will make his Combate Americas promotional debut after winning a regional championship in Mexico, and look to earn his sixth consecutive victory as a professional.
To date, Bahamondes, who is training out of Valle Flow Striking in Chicago, Ill., has notched six of his eight career wins by way of (T)KO.
Becerra, a 23-year-old native of Modesto, Calif., has also emerged a budding star with five of seven career wins having come via (T)KO or submission. He will aim to collect his fourth straight victory.
The gutsy and relentless, 30-year-old Herrera of Porterville, Calif. will see action for the first time in 2019 since turning in two impressive performances in her first two starts under the promotion of Combate Americas last year.
In her Combate Americas debut on April 13, 2018, Herrera fought then-six-division world boxing champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano to a draw, before notching her first Combate Americas win with a second round (4:01) submission (guillotine choke) of Maria Paula Buzaglo at Save Mart Center last December 7.
The 23-year-old Gallardo of Santiago is also a member of Chicago’s Valle Flow Striking team.
She will look to rebound from a second round (:50) TKO (knee strike and punches) defeat at the hands of Mexico’s pound-for-pound top female fighter, undefeated Melissa “Super Mely” Martinez, on April 26.
Prior to the matchup with Martinez, which marked Gallardo’s Combate Americas debut, Gallardo had reeled off three straight wins.
In other action announced today for the Combate Americas event, Adrian Guzman (5-1) of Parlier, Calif. will face off with fellow Combate Americas veteran Danny “The Realist” Ramirez (-5) of El Dorado Hills, Calif. in a lightweight attraction.
Undefeated Paul Elizondo (3-0) of Fresno will make his third start under the promotion of Combate Americas against Trevor Wells (2-1) of Murrieta, Calif. at flyweight (125 pounds).
Urijah Faber protégé Kaleio Romero (4-1) of Sacramento, Calif. will face Israel Delgado (2-2, 1 NC) of American Canyon, Calif. in a featherweight (145 pounds) battle.
Unbeaten prospect Joel Lopez (1-0) of Madera, Calif. will go to war with Brock Dias (0-0) of Tulare, Calif. in another featherweight contest.
Steve Bollinger (1-0) of Clovis, Calif. will test his skills against Vince Gomez (0-0) of Bakersfield, Calif. at lightweight.
A heavyweight tilt will see Rudolph Buendia (3-1) of Oakdale, Calif. collide with Chris “The Law” Lewis (2-2) of Fresno.
Mike “Mean Phillapene” Tubera (0-1) of Ceres, Calif. will meet Austin “The Dynasty” Liu (0-1) of Hayward, Calif. in a 130-pound catchweight fight.
Additional bouts will be announced soon.
COMBATE AMERICAS PRESENTED BY CRICKET WIRELESS
LIGHTWEIGHT MAIN EVENT:
Ignacio Bahamondes (9-2) vs. Salvador Becerra (7-2)
FEATURED STRAWWEIGHT BOUT:
Corina Herrera (4-4-1) vs. Caroline Gallardo (3-3)
PRELIMINARY BOUT CARD:
Lightweight: Adrian Guzman (5-1) vs. Danny Ramirez (6-5)
Flyweight: Paul Elizondo (3-0) vs. Trevor Wells (2-1)
Featherweight: Kaleio Romero (4-1) vs. Israel Delgado (2-2, 1 NC)
Featherweight: Joel Lopez (1-0) vs. Brock Dias (0-0)
Lightweight: Steve Bollinger (1-0) vs. Vince Gomez (0-0)
Heavyweight: Rudolph Buendia (3-1) vs. Chris Lewis (2-2)
Catchweight (130 lbs.): Mike Tubera (0-1) vs. Austin Liu (0-1)
