Combate Hidalgo results: Cooper Gibson shocks Ricky Palacios with arm triangle submission

Mark Lelinwalla

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Combate Hidalgo results: Cooper Gibson shocks Ricky Palacios with arm triangle submission image

Ricky Palacios stepped into the cage at Combate Americas' Combate Hidalgo event Friday night at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, TX. undefeated under the promotion's banner and looking to extend his winning streak to nine straight.

Instead, Combate's knockout artist got slapped with "The Bitter Truth."

Cooper "The Bitter Truth" Gibson immediately put Palacios on notice of his power with an emphatic takedown early into the first round. Seconds later, he mounted Palacios and was sneaking in elbows and fists. When Palacios made the mistake of momentarily giving up his back, Gibson capitalized by swinging around and securing an arm triangle to which Palacios tapped out to, awarding Gibson the stunning first-round submission.

 

 

From the takedown to actually cinching in the arm triangle and getting the submission victory, Gibson (9-2) made his four minutes and two seconds of work in his Combate debut look efficient and easy. Not to mention, his victory at the expense of Palacios (11-2) instantly positions himself as a force in the bantamweight ranks under the promotion. Here's how the rest of Combate Hidalgo went.

Co-main event: Enrique Gonzalez edges Alejandro Martinez via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30); Catchweight (150 pounds)

 

 

Martinez and Gonzalez had their moments of dominating the other and threatening a finish. But this co-main event at a catchweight of 150 pounds wound up going the distance, with judges scoring it as a split decision in favor of Gonzalez in a ruling that could’ve easily gone the opposite direction; this fight was that close.

Desiree Yanez def. Paulina Vargas by third-round technical submission (injury); Women's Strawweights

 

 

Gruesome to say the least, Yanez caught Vargas in a mount and pounded her out with hammerfists to the point that Vargas tapped out. But the instant replay showed that Vargas suffered a broken ankle, as her foot was shown dangling in a scene not meant for the squeamish at all. Vargas peppered Yanez with stinging shots in the first, before Yanez evened the score by grinding out her opponent in the second, paving the way for Yanez’s emphatic finish.

Cee Jay Hamilton dominates David Fuentes via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29); Bantamweights

 

 

Hamilton tagged Fuentes at will with punches and knees. Although he couldn’t put him away, Hamilton controlled the pace and dictated the action toward having his hand raised at the end.

Prelims results

  • Juan Gonzalez def. Elias Rodriguez by second-round TKO (punches); Lightweights
  • Luke Flores def. Carlos Bustillos via first-round technical submission (injury); Lightweights
  • Elias Urbina def. Carlos Martinez by first-round submission (rear-naked choke); Middleweights
  • Roy Sarabia def. Issac Matamoros via first-round submission (rear-naked choke); Featherweights
  • Edmilson Freitas def. David Salazar by first-round submission (rear-naked choke); Lightweights

Mark Lelinwalla

Mark Lelinwalla Photo

Mark Lelinwalla is a contributing writer and editor for DAZN News. He has written for the likes of the New York Daily News, Men's Health, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Complex, XXL and Vibe Magazine.