Combate Americas announced its return to Mexico City with a star-studded Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) extravaganza, headlined by a highly-anticipated women’s world strawweight (115 pounds) championship rematch between reigning, undefeated champion Melissa “Super Mely” Martinez (7-0) and challenger Desiree “Dirty Dez” Yanez (5-2) on Friday, March 20.
The fight card, which features a series of Mexico vs. USA themed matchups, including the world championship main event, takes place at Frontón Mexico and airs live on television in the U.S. in Spanish on both Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and TUDN USA (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT), and in English on AXS TV (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), and in Mexico on Televisa Canal 5 (11 p.m. local time).
Priced from $300 MX, tickets for the Combate Americas world championship MMA event are on sale at Fronticket.com.mx.
“It is fitting that we do this much-anticipated rematch in world-class Mexico City and the reigning world champion’s hometown, and we expect to see astronomical TV ratings with it,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.
The rematch between Martinez of Mexico City and Yanez of Waco, Texas comes after the two engaged in a thrilling, see-saw battle in the inaugural Combate Americas women’s world championship bout on December 7, with Martinez edging out a split decision after three rounds.
The 22-year-old Martinez is ranked as high as the number one, pound-for-pound female fighter in Mexico, and number two, pound-for-pound in all of Latin America.
Heading into their first meeting last December, Yanez, 30, had reeled off four consecutive victories, a streak that concluded with a third round (1:54) technical submission conquest of Mexico’s Paulina Vargas in Combate Americas action last June 21.
In the lightweight (155 pounds) co-main event announced today, undefeated, rising star Daniel “Golden Boy” Zellhuber (8-0) will put his perfect record on the line against hard-hitting Tommy “The Spaniard” Aaron (6-4).
At just 20 years old, Zellhuber of Mexico City is one of his country’s brightest prospects in the sport of MMA. He has collected wins in all three of his Combate Americas bouts to date, most recently scoring a thunderous, third round (1:32) TKO (punches) on Peru’s Gian Franco Cortez last May 31.
Fighting out of Torrance, Calif., the 25-year-old Aaron is known for his dangerous knockout power. His Combate Americas debut also represents Aaron’s return to MMA competition following an extended, 18-month layoff from the sport.
In a featured, bantamweight (135 pounds) contest announced today, Martinez’s younger, 21-year-old brother, David “The Black Spartan” Martinez (3-0), also an unbeaten and explosive talent, will face his most dangerous test to date in another knockout artist, Jesse Strader (5-1) of Lancaster, Calif.
In one of seven preliminary bouts, and a fourth Mexico vs. USA matchup announced today, kickboxing and Judo champion Luis “Wicho” Castaneda (1-0) of Mexico City will square off with Michael “El Enterrador” Robertson (7-6) of Phoenix, Ariz. in a 177-pound catchweight contest.
Making his much-anticipated Combate Americas debut, Misael “Pitbull” Iñarritu (6-2) of Phoenix via Juarez, Mexico will collide with Erick “Perry” Montaño of Mexico City at welterweight (170 pounds).
A flyweight (125 pounds) bout will pit Mexico City-based rivals Jordi “Kamikaze” Maya (3-1) and Jesus “Tiburon” Gutierrez (4-3) against one another.
Daniel “Doberman” Lezama (7-5) of Mexico City will face off with Jorge Manzano (4-4) of Puebla, Mexico in a bantamweight battle.
In women’s atomweight (105 pounds) action, unbeaten Sara Cova (1-0) of Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico will meet Iveth del Carmen Correa (0-0) of Mexico City.
Alexis “Coyote” Gonzalez (3-2) of Phoenix via Mexico City will battle Gilberto “El Azteca” Aguilar (17-18-1) of Mexico City at bantamweight.
Manuel “Bullying” Romero (2-1) of Puebla will duke it out with Fernando “Mandril” Vargas (1-7) of Mexico City at welterweight.
