Combate Americas announced today that it has partnered with Southern California-based leisure operator Hybrid One to produce multiple, live televised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events in California’s Inland Empire, beginning with a nine-bout fight card for Mexican Independence Day, at The Amphitheater at Splash Kingdom Waterpark in Redlands on Friday, Sept. 15.
“Combate Americas: El Grito en La Jaula,” the event that kicks off the partnership, will air live on Azteca America in the U.S. and on ESPN Latin America at 10 p.m. ET, and will be headlined by a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup between ferocious, 26-year-old rising star Jose “Froggy” Estrada (3-1) of Oxnard, Calif. and gritty battler Izic “Lionheart” Fernandez (2-3) of Santa Ana, Calif.
In the women’s atomweight (105 pounds) co-main event, former Eddie Bravoprotégé Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (6-4) of Las Vegas, Nev., fresh off her second-round submission victory over 12-time Spanish National Judo Champion Vanesa Rico, will make a quick return to La Jaula, the Combate Americas cage, where the 22-year-old will face off with Jenna Serio (3-2) of New York, N.Y.
Priced from $40, tickets for “Combate Americas: El Grito en La Jaula” are on sale at Ticketon.com.
“We are excited to partner with Hybrid One, and continue the rapid expansion of our live event series to yet another market in Southern California, beginning with a phenomenal fight card in honor of Mexican Independence Day,” said Combate Americas CEO and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-founder Campbell McLaren.
“We acquired Splash Kingdom in April of this year with the vision of transforming it into the Inland Empire’s leading entertainment destination. Today’s partnership with Combate Americas represents a significant step toward realizing that vision,” said Hybrid One co-founder and co-owner Ryan Sauter.
Following the kick-off event on Sept. 15, Combate Americas expects to return to the Redlands venue in December.
A second women’s atomweight matchup at “Combate Americas: El Grito en La Jaula” will pit two professional debut competitors – Brenda Enriquez (0-0) of Salt Lake City, Utah against Shyann Farmer (0-0) Alamogordo, N.M.
The 28-year-old Enriquez is coming off a stellar amateur career during which she amassed a 7-1 record, with 6 of her victories coming by way of either (T)KO or submission.
Farmer is a 24-year-old upstart who collected an amateur record of 4-1.
Elsewhere on the fight card, undefeated, emerging star Rafael “Gifted” Garcia(4-0) of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico will make his second start in La Jaula and face off with three-time Combate Americas veteran Marcos “El Matador” Bonilla (4-4) of Los Angeles, Calif. in a featherweight contest.
In a battle between unbeaten lightweights (155 pounds) Javier “Habanero” Garcia (2-0) of Covina, Calif. will take on Guillermo Gonzalez (3-0) of San Bernardino, Calif.
Fresh off his first-round submission victory at Combate Americas on May 5, Ralph “The Spyder Monkey” Acosta (17-12) of Riverside, Calif. will collide with Cub Swanson student Gareth De La Cruz (6-1) of Palm Springs, Calif.
Doors at The Amphitheater at Splash Kingdom Waterpark open at 6 p.m. The first bout will begin at 6:30 p.m.
COMPLETE “COMBATE AMERICAS: EL GRITO EN LA JAULA” FIGHT CARD
Featherweight Main Event (Live on Azteca America and ESPN Latin America):
Jose Estrada vs. Izic Fernandez
Atomweight Co-Main Event (Live on Azteca America and ESPN Latin America):
Kyra Batara vs. Jenna Serio
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Rafael Garcia vs. Marcos Bonilla
Lightweight: Javier Garcia vs. Guillermo Gonzalez
Atomweight: Brenda Enriquez vs. Shyann Farmer
Flyweight: Ralph Acosta vs. Gareth De La Cruz
Flyweight: Isaac Camarillo vs. Heber Castillo
Catchweight (140 pounds): Angel Gonzalez vs. Julio Aguilera
Middleweight: Santiago Diaz vs. Alex Thompson
