Combate Global and Univision Communications, Inc. announced that they will kick off their recently announced new partnership with a North American championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event, live on television in the U.S. on Univision (12:30 am ET/PT) and TUDN USA (12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT), and in Mexico on Televisa Canal 5 (11:30 p.m. local time) on Friday, April 9 from Univision’s studios in Miami, Fla.
Today’s news comes on the heels of the recent announcement about the new, 5-year media deal between Combate Global and Univision that calls for 30 Combate Global live events annually, for a total of 150 events.
“We are coming out swinging in 2021, and are going to start the year off with a historic night that crowns our first North American champion,” said Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren.
In the Combate Global North American championship main event and inaugural flyweight (125 pounds) title bout that also pits Mexico opposite the U.S., Edgar “Pitbull” Chairez (6-3) will collide with Mefi “Lil Monsta’” Monterroso (5-2).
The 25-year-old Chairez of Tijuana, B.C. has produced some of the most thrilling moments in La Jaula, the Combate Global competition cage, earning all five of his wins in the promotion by way of (T)KO or submission, including a stunning, 18-second armbar submission of Erick Villaluz on June 30, 2017.
Fighting out of San Jose, Calif., the 31-year-old Monterroso is a former California State high school wrestling champion who has also competed in professional boxing.
Monterroso trains at famed MMA camp, American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). He notched his fastest victory with a TKO (punches) of Isaiah Wright in just 15 seconds on November 5, 2016.
In Friday’s co-main event unbeaten David “The Black Spartan” Martinez (3-0) of Mexico City, Mexico will return to Combate Global action and take on Gianni “Kryptonia” Vasquez (5-4) of Irvine, Calif. via Mexico City in a bantamweight (135 pounds) contest.
A featured women’s catchweight (122 pounds) matchup will see Jessica Vargas (2-1) of La Paz, Bolivia will battle Laura “La Jefa” Gallardo (2-1) of La Habra Heights, Calif.
In preliminary bout action, Jomal Rodriguez (3-2) of Plant City, Fla. will meet Sergio Sosa (1-1) of Miami at lightweight (155 pounds).
Adam “The American Bully” Martinez (6-2) of Colorado Springs, Colo. will battle Pierre “The French Hawaiian” Daguzan (5-4) of Honolulu, Hawaii via Versailles, Yvelines, France at featherweight (145 pounds).
Steven Martinez (0-0) of San Antonio, Texas will make his professional debut opposite Amir Naser Kazemi (1-1) in a 140-pound catchweight bout.
