Combate Global (previously Combate Americas) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) sports franchise and media company directed toward a Hispanic audience. It includes TV broadcasts, live events, and mobile content
Combate Global airs on
Univision
Univision () is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the Latino public and includes ...
,
Televisa
Grupo Televisa is a Mexican multimedia mass media company. A major Latin American mass media corporation, it often presents itself as the largest producer of Spanish-language content.
In April 2021, Televisa and Univision Communications announce ...
,
TUDN
TUDN (pronounced tu-de-ene; formerly called Univision Deportes Network (abbr. UDN) is an American Spanish language sports channel. Owned by TelevisaUnivision, it is an extension of the company's sports division of the same name. It launched on Ap ...
,
CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network (a.k.a. CBSSN) is an American pay television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. When it launched in 2002 as the National College Sports Network (later College Sports Television also known as ...
and
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures (including CBS Studios), Paramount Me ...
.
Combate Global caters to a millennial audience. The average age of the viewer is 27.
Leadership
Campbell McLaren
Campbell McLaren (born June 18, 1956) is an American entrepreneur and media executive. He is the co-creator of the UFC. ESPN said he is the 10th most influential person in UFC history and that "his influence on the promotion cannot be overstated ...
is the CEO and Founder of Combate Global. He is the co-founder/co-creator of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
(UFC).
Joe Plumeri
Joseph J. Plumeri II (born July 7, 1943) is vice chairman of the First Data Board of Directors. He was the chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings (Willis), a New York Stock Exchange-listed insurance broker, until July 2013. The company has 1 ...
is the non-Executive Chairman of the board. Plumeri has served as the CEO of
Citibank
Citibank, N. A. (N. A. stands for " National Association") is the primary U.S. banking subsidiary of financial services multinational Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City ...
North America, Chairman and CEO of Primerica, Co-Managing Partner or Shearson Lehman Brothers, and the Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings. He is the Co-owner of the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
minor league affiliate team, the
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the Doub ...
.
History
Beginnings and reality show
Combate Global began as a reality show (called Combate Americas) on
Mun2, featuring ten fighters in two weight classes competing for a chance to win an exclusive contract with Combate Global. The series culminated in a set of fights, with Ismael Leon being crowned the
featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling.
Boxing
Professional boxing
History
A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, this ...
champion and Danny Morales winning the
welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the ...
bracket.
Chino y Nacho hosted the series, while
Daddy Yankee served as the first commissioner of Combate Global.
McLaren, the CEO of Combate Global, claims that the company “was specifically created to present the best new Hispanic fighters and to introduce a whole new audience to this highly entertaining sport.”
Rebranding and television deals
In late March 2021, Combate Americas announced that due to rebranding the organization it is now named as ''Combate Global''.
Simultaneously, they announced a five-year broadcasting partnership with
Univision
Univision () is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the Latino public and includes ...
and a plan to produce 150 televised events.
After increased ratings, news surfaced in late July 2021 that Univision had bought a significant equity stake in Combate Global.
In late June 2021, Combate Global announced that
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is the sports division of the American television network CBS. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on W 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on W 5 ...
, through
CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network (a.k.a. CBSSN) is an American pay television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. When it launched in 2002 as the National College Sports Network (later College Sports Television also known as ...
and
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures (including CBS Studios), Paramount Me ...
, would become the English language home for Combate Global.
List of events
![Combate_Americas'_Fighters_on_a_Beach](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Combate_Americas%27_Fighters_on_a_Beach.jpg)
Combate Americas: Level vs. Arzeno
December 12, 2013 - Magic City Casino, Miami, Florida, United States
Main Event: Rene Martinez vs. Alan Arzeno
Combate Americas: Alvarez vs Patterson
September 17, 2015 - The D Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Event: Gustavo Lopez vs. Mauricio Diaz
Combate Americas: Hollywood
December 16, 2015 - Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, United States
Main Event: John Castañeda vs. Federico Lopez
Combate 5
April 18, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, USA
Main Event: Erick Sanchez vs. Mike Segura
Combate 6
April 26, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: John Castaneda vs. Gabriel Solorio
Combate 7
May 9, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: Ricky Palacios vs. Brandon Royval
Combate 8
August 11, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: John Castaneda vs. Angel Cruz
Combate 9: Empire Rising
October 14, 2016 - Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, United States
Main Event: John Castaneda vs. Gustavo Lopez
Combate 10
January 19, 2017 - El Plaza Condesa, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico
Main Event: Gustavo Lopez vs. Steve Swanson
Combate 11
February 16, 2017 - Burbank, California, United States
Main Event: Danny Ramirez vs. Erick Gonzalez
Combate 12
March 30, 2017 - Fausto Gutierrez Moreno Municipal Auditorium, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Main Event: Marcelo Rojo vs. Ivan Hernandez Flores
Combate 13
April 20, 2017 - Casino Del Sol Resort, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Ricky Palacios vs.
Roman Salazar
Combate 14
May 5, 2017 - Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States
Main Event: Emilio Chavez vs. Jose Estrada
Combate 15
June 30, 2017 - Sala De Armas, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico
Main Event: Rodrigo Vargas vs. Danny Ramirez
Combate 16: Combate Clásico
July 27, 2017 - Mana Wynwood Convention Center, Miami, Florida, United States
Main Event: Ricky Palacios vs. Chris Avila
Combate 17: El Grito En La Jaula
September 15, 2017 - Splash Kingdom Amphitheater, Redlands, California, United States
Main Event: Jose Estrada vs. Izic Fernandez
Combate 18: Copa Combate
November 11, 2017 - Grand Oasis Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
''Copa Combate Tournament''
''Extra Fights''
Combate 19: Queen Warriors
December 1, 2017 - Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Main Event: Kyra Batara vs. Paulina Granados
Combate 20: Estrellas I
April 13, 2018 - The Shrine, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: José “Pochito” Alday vs. John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda
Combate 21: Estrellas II
April 20, 2018 - Gimnasio Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
Main Event: Érik "El Goyito" Pérez vs. DJ Fuentes
Combate 22: México vs. USA
May 11, 2018 - McClellan Conference Center, Sacramento, California, United States
Main Event: Anthony “The Shark” Avila vs. José Luis Verdugo
Combate 23: México vs. El Mundo
May 18, 2018 - Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, Baja C, Mexico
Main Event: Andres “The Bullet” Quintana vs. Marco Antonio “La Roca” Elpidio
SEASON 2
Combate 24: Alday vs. Lopez (Championship Fight)
September 14 - Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Jose "El Pochito" Alday vs. Gustavo Lopez
Combate 25: Road to Copa Combate
September 28, 2018 - Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, California, United States
Main Event: Andres Quintana vs. Eric Gonzalez
Combate 26: Mexico vs. USA
October 13, 2018 - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Anthony Birchak vs. Adam Martinez
Combate 27: La Batalla de Guadalajara
October 26, 2018 - Nissan Gymnastics Complex, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Main Event: Victor Hugo Madrigal vs. Cristian Quinonez
Combate 28: Combate Monterrey
November 17, 2018 - Nuevo León Gymnasium, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Main Event:
Érik Pérez
Érik Gregorio Pérez Ruvalcaba (born November 19, 1989) is a Mexican mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Bellator MMA promotion.
A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for Shark Fights, BAMMA, UF ...
vs. Andres Ayala
Combate 29: Copa Combate
December 7, 2018 - Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, United States
Main Event: Andres Quintana vs. Alejandro Flores
Combate 30: Combate Baja
February 8, 2019 - Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Main Event: Rafa Garcia vs. Edgar Escarrega
Combate 31: Mexico vs. USA
February 22, 2019 - Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, USA
Main Event: Daniel Rodriguez vs. Ivan Castillo
Combate 32: Mexico vs. Spain
March 8, 2019 - Arena Coliseo Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Main Event: Erick Gonzalez vs. Alejandro Martinez
Combate 33: Alday vs. Lopez 2 (Championship Fight)
March 29, 2019 - Casino del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Jose Alday vs. Gustavo Lopez
Combate 34: Combate Estrellas
April 12, 2019 - Arena Jose Sulaiman, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Main Event: Alejandro Flores vs. Levy Marroquin
Combate 35: Combate Reinas
April 26, 2019 - Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: Melissa Martinez vs. Caroline Gallardo
Combate 36: Combate Stockton
May 10, 2019 - Stockton Center, Stockton, California, United States
Main Event: Erick Sanchez vs. Alex Velasco
Combate 37: Combate Peru
May 31, 2019 - Coliseo Manuel Bonilla, Miraflores, Peru
Main Event: Daniel Zellhuber vs. Geanfranco Cortez
Combate 38: Combate Unbreakable
June 7, 2019 - Casino del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Jose Alday vs. Juan Pablo Gonzalez
Combate 39: Combate Hidalgo
June 21, 2019 - State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, United States
Main Event: Ricky Palacios vs. Cooper Gibson
Combate 40: Combate Fresno
August 2, 2019 - Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, United States
Main Event: Reina Cordoba vs. Zoila Frausto
Combate 41: Combate Lake Tahoe
August 24, 2019 - Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey's, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, United States
Main Event: Gustavo Lopez vs. Joey Ruquet
Combate 42: Combate Chicago
September 6, 2019 - Cicero Stadium, Cicero, Illinois, Chicago
Main Event: David Argueta vs. Ronny Mendez
Combate 43: Combate Mexicali
September 20, 2019 - Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Main Event: Rafa Garcia vs. Erick Gonzalez
Combate 44: Combate Guadalajara
September 27, 2019 - Foro Sur, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Main Event: Horacio Gutierrez vs. Chase Gibson
Combate 45: Combate Tucson
October 11, 2019 - Casino del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, California
Main Event: Joby Sanchez vs. Jose Alday
Combate 46: Combate Monterrey
May 31, 2019 - Dome Care, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Main Event: Alejandro Flores vs. Marco Elpidio
Combate Tucson
October 11, 2019 - Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Joby Sanchez vs. Jose Alday
Combate Monterrey
October 18, 2019 - Mexico Dome Care, Monterrey, Mexico
Main Event: Alejandro Flores vs. Marco Antonio Elpidio
Combate Día de los Muertos: Dallas
November 1, 2019 - Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas, United States
Main event: Gilbert Urbina vs. Angelo Trevino
Combate San Antonio
November 8, 2019 - Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Main Event: Nadine Mandiau vs. Melissa Cervantes
Combate Fresno
November 22, 2019 -
Save Mart Center
Save Mart Center at Fresno State is a multi-purpose arena, on the campus of California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), located in Fresno, California. An open house was held for the community on November 5, 2003, with the official ribbon ...
, Fresno, California, United States
Main Event: Salvador Becerra vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Combate Americas: Tito vs. Alberto
December 7, 2019 -
Payne Arena
The Payne Arena is a multi-purpose complex, in Hidalgo, Texas. It was formerly known as Dodge Arena from 2003 until February 2010, State Farm Arena from 2010 to September 2018, and then State Farm Hidalgo Arena for one year.
Capacity
The arena ...
, Hidalgo, Texas, United States
Main Event:
Tito Ortiz vs.
Alberto El Patrón
Combate Americas: Stockton
December 13, 2019 - Stockton, California, United States
Main Event: Cameron Church vs. Alejandro Sanchez
Combate 53: Copa Combate
December 20, 2019 - Lima, Peru
Main Event: Humberto Bandenay vs. Erick Gonzalez
Combate 55: Garcia vs. Bandenay
February 21, 2020 -
Auditorio del Estado
Auditorio del Estado is an indoor arena in Mexicali, Mexico. It is primarily used for basketball and is the home arena of the Soles de Mexicali. It can seat 4,426 people. It is located in the "Ciudad Deportiva" of Mexicali, known as the sport ...
, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Main Event: Rafa Garcia vs. Humberto Bandenay
Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA
February 28, 2020 -
Save Mart Center
Save Mart Center at Fresno State is a multi-purpose arena, on the campus of California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), located in Fresno, California. An open house was held for the community on November 5, 2003, with the official ribbon ...
, Fresno, California, United States
Main Event: Alejandro Martinez vs. Adrian Guzman
Copa Combate
Copa Combate is an annual, one-night eight man tournament where the winner receives a prize of $100,000. Each fighter represents their own country, in a quest to win the "Copa." The inaugural Copa took place during the 24th anniversary of the now legendary UFC 1, which was executive produced by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-founder and Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.
Copa Combate: Cancun
In the fall of 2017, Combate Americas and Telemundo Deportes announced a partnership to produce Cope Combate, a tournament that took place on November 11, 2017, in Cancun, Mexico.
The eight bantamweight (135 pounds) fighters were separated into four brackets with the top four fighters given seeded positions based on their worldwide rankings, while the opponents were determined based on a lottery ball drawing. The tournament's semifinal stage consisted of two bouts that pit the winners of the quarterfinal stage bouts in each tournament bracket against one another. The two winners from the semifinal faced each other.
Mexican fighter Levy Saúl “El Negro” Marroquín was the winner of Copa Combate, after stepping in for Ricky Palacios after he failed to make weight.
Original Bracket
* Mikey "El Terrible" Erosa (Puerto Rico) vs. Marcelo “Pitbull" Rojo (Argentina)
* Carlos "Lobo" Rivera (Mexico) vs. Ricky "El Gallero" Palacios (USA)
* John "Sexi Mexi" Castaneda (USA) vs. Kevin "El Frío" Moreyra (Peru)
* Marc "Lufo" Gómez (Spain) vs. Andrés "Doble A" Ayala (Colombia)
Alternate Bouts
* Levy Saúl “El Negro” Marroquín (México) vs. Alejandro “The Pitbull” Abomohor (Colombia)
* Felipe Vargas (Colombia) vs. Víctor Madrigal
Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios and Andrés “Doble A Leal” Ayala were not able to make weight (the limit was 136 lbs). Therefore, Levy Saúl Marroquín took Palacios' place (now facing Rivera), while Alejandro Abomohor took Ayala's position (fighting against Gomez).
Quarter Finals
* Marcelo Rojo defeated Mike Erosa via Submission (armbar) at 2:20 of round 1
* Levy Saúl Marroquín defeated Carlos Rivera via Unanimous Decision (Score Cards: 10-9, 10-9, 10-8)
* John Castaneda defeated Kevin Moreyra via Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 4:55 of round 1.
* Marc Gomez defeated Alejandro Abomohor via Unanimous Decision (Score Cards / Tarjetas: 10-9, 10-9, 10-8)
Semi-Finals Results
* Levy Saúl Marroquín defeated Marcelo Rojo via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:56 of round 3.
* John Castaneda defeated Marc Gomez via Unanimous Decision (Score Cards: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Final Result
* Levy Saúl Marroquín defeated John Castaneda via Unanimous Decision (Score Cards: 30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Copa Combate: Fresno
Original Bracket
* Andres Quintana (USA) vs. Marlon Gonzalez (Peru)
* Alejandro Flores (Mexico) vs. John Bedoya (Colombia)
* Pablo Villaseca (Chile) vs. Daniel Requeijo (Spain)
* Bruno Cannetti (Argentina) vs. Joey Ruquet (Puerto Rico)
Alternate Bouts
*
Gustavo Lopez (USA) vs. Vincente Marquez (Spain)
* Pablo Sabori (Mexico) vs. Michael Irizarry (Puerto Rico)
Quarter Finals
* Andres Quintana defeated Marlon Gonzalez via Unanimous Decision (Score Cards: 10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
* Alejandro Flores defeated John Bedoya via Submission (D'arce Choke) at 3:03 of Round 1
* Pablo Villaseca defeated Daniel Requeijo vis Split Decision (Score Cards: 10-9, 10-9, 9-10)
* Bruno Cannetti defeated Joey Ruquet via Technical Knockout at 1:32 of Round 1
Semi-Finals Results
* Andres Quintana defeated Bruno Cannetti via Technical Knockout at 2:05 of Round 1
* Alejandro Flores defeated Pablo Villaseca via Unanimous Decision (Score Cards: 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 )
Final Result
* Andres Quintana defeated Alejandro Flores via Knockout at 2:49 of Round 1
Current World champions
Men
Women
World Championship history
Lightweight Championship
:''155 lbs (70 kg)''
Featherweight Championship
:''145 lbs (66 kg)''
Bantamweight Championship
:''135 lbs (61 kg)''
Women's Strawweight Championship
:''115 lbs (52 kg)''
Reception
“Combate ESTRELLAS I” and “Combate ESTRELLAS II” marked the first-ever live Univision and Univision Deportes Network (UDN) televised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events, on Friday, April 13 and Friday, April 20, respectively.
“Combate ESTRELLAS I” delivered a total of 583,000 persons 2+, including 296,000 adults in the coveted 18-49 age group, on the Univision and Univision Deportes Network simulcast. Combate Americas beat Bellator 197, which aired in primetime on the Paramount Network, making it the number 2 MMA promotion that week. In Mexico, the event delivered over 4 million live broadcast television viewers on Azteca 7. The Facebook LIVE stream of the “Combate ESTRELLAS I” preliminary bout card delivered over 294,000 streams.
Airing exclusively on UDN in the midnight ET slot the following Friday, April 20, “Combate ESTRELLAS II” delivered another 200,000 total viewers, a 10 percent increase from the first installment of the two-part, “Combate ESTRELLAS” live event series. Of the total UDN viewers for “Combate ESTRELLAS II,” 67 percent were in the 18-49 age group. The Facebook LIVE stream of the “Combate ESTRELLAS II” preliminary bout card garnered over 630,000 streams, more than doubling the online audience from ESTRELLAS I.
Awards
Combate Americas was the winner of the
Imagen Award
The Imagen Awards are administered by the Imagen Foundation, an organization dedicated to "encouraging and recognizing the positive portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry." To be considered for an Imagen Award, a media piece or person ...
for “Best Reality or Variety Series,” making it the first fight TV program to win a major award.
Combate America won the 2014 Cable Fax Award for Best Show or Series Reality/Competition/Game Show.
See also
*
List of current Combate Global fighters The Combate Global is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) organization.
Each fight record has four categories: wins, losses, draws, and no-contests (NC). All fight records in this article are displayed in that order, with fights resulting in a ...
*
List of current mixed martial arts champions
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a form of competitive combat sport, akin to boxing, muay thai, or kick boxing. MMA titles, or championship belts, are given to those fighters deemed by a promotional organization to have met a certain standard of athle ...
References
External links
Official website
{{MMA organizations
Mixed martial arts organizations