SN exclusive: Combate Americas to have historic three-round title fight on Sept. 14

Steven Muehlhausen

SN exclusive: Combate Americas to have historic three-round title fight on Sept. 14 image

MMA promotion Combate Americas returns for the second half of their year on Friday, Sept. 14 from the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz. (Simulcast on Univision and Univision Deportes Network, midnight ET).

Sporting News has learned the main event will Levy Saul Marroquin facing rival Jose Alday (11-3-1) for the inaugural bantamweight championship. 

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SN has also learned for the first time in history, a major, worldwide recognized MMA sports franchise will utilize three rounds, rather than the traditional, five rounds for a world championship fight.

“MMA now stands for ‘Mucho Más Acción,’ and this is exactly what the world is going to see with a three-round title fight — more action in a shorter, faster and superior format that serves Combate Americas’ younger, millennial audience perfectly," said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.

“This championship fight is a remarkable showdown between two ferocious warriors whose recent, respective performances in La Jaula have earned them the right to face off with each other for a coveted world title.

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In November, Marroquin, 22, (11-2) won the inaugural “COPA COMBATE,” — a one-night, eight-man, $100,000 grand prize tournament champion. He defeated Carlos Rivera, Marcelo Rojo and John Castaneda.

Alday, 26, (11-3-1) is coming off his career-best victory, a split decision win over Castaneda in the main event at Combate Estrellas I in April.

The card will also feature a women’s flyweight contest between top prospect Tracy Cortez and Brandi Narvaez.

Cortez (3-1) will be making her promotional debut and looking to extend her three-fight winning streak. Narvaez (0-2) is looking for her first victory, after compiling a perfect, 4-0 record as an amateur.

 

 

Steven Muehlhausen

Steven Muehlhausen Photo

Steven Muehlhausen is a contributing writer for DAZN News. He writes features and news stories, and provides analysis relating to the world of boxing. Over the past five years, he has interviewed some of the biggest names in combat sports, including Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Terence Crawford, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Bill Goldberg.