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Fresno State's student-run newspaper

The Collegian

Alejandro+Martinez%2C+%28white+trunks%29%2C+connects+a+jab+to+Adrian+Guzman%2C+%28black+trunks%29+in+the+Combate+Americas%E2%80%99+main+event+at+the+Save+Mart+Center+on+Friday%2C+Feb.+28%2C+2020.+%28Armando+Carreno%2FThe+Collegian%29
Alejandro Martinez, (white trunks), connects a jab to Adrian Guzman, (black trunks) in the Combate Americas’ main event at the Save Mart Center on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (Armando Carreno/The Collegian)

Combate Americas puts on “Mexico vs. USA”

Combate Americas, the Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts sports franchise, put on its second show in February, returning to the Save Mart Center on Friday night for the “Mexico vs. USA” event. 

The event was set up with six preliminary fights, two alternate bouts and the main card event. Despite the title of the event, only four of the nine fights pitted fighters from Mexico and the U.S. against each other. 

The first fight between the two countries was at the 135-pound weight class between Lucero Acosta (Mexico) and Maritza Sanchez (U.S.). Sanchez attacked early, connecting on several hooks and outside kicks.

Acosta couldn’t land any punches and soon started bleeding after a big left hook by Sanchez. A few seconds later, Sanchez threw a 1-2 punch that brought Acosta to the ground.

While Acosta was on the ground, Sanchez threw a flurry of punches and had her in a rear-naked choke. Acosta couldn’t take the punishment anymore as Sanchez won at 2:35 by submission in the first round.

The crowd cheered for Sanchez as she jumped on the top of the cage and threw a fist in the air. She said she was nervous coming into the bout, but was able to win.

“Win or lose, I really worked hard for this night, and now I’ll just get back to training and stay ready for the next fight,” Sanchez said.

Before the main event, the crowd-favorite Stephanie Frausto fought against Charisa Sigala at the 115-pound weight class. The fight was very close in the first round as both fighters took their time to test each other. 

In the second round, Frausto used a takedown to get Sigala on the ground and threw three punches as Sigala barely held on. In just a few seconds, Sigala’s corner threw the towel, and Frausto won by technical knockout at 4:06 ”” her eighth professional win.

Once the main card started, the crowd got on their feet as Alejandro “Pato” Martinez and Adrian Guzman walked to the cage. Martinez represented Mexico and Guzman represented the U.S. in the fight at the 155-pound weight class.

In the first round, both fighters traded punches, and Guzman used a takedown to bring Martinez to the ground. The crowd roared when Martinez landed a right hook to drop Guzman to the ground.

Martinez had trapped Guzman by the edge of the cage and threw a flurry of hooks. Guzman was dazed early as the round ended, landing very little hooks and kicks.

In the second round, the crowd roared as they yelled, “Pato, Pato, Pato.” The crowd began to split into two sides as well as another side yelled, “Guzman, Guzman, Guzman.”

Once the round began, however, the crowd booed as neither fighter could connect any punches. Neither fighter went to the ground as Martinez sprawled several times, and both Guzman and Martinez were dodging hooks.

In the third round, Guzman and Martinez both attacked, throwing jabs and body shots. Towards the end of the round, Guzman had Martinez on the fence and landed multiple shots to the face. 

Martinez threw a 1-2 punch and a right hook to counter, and Guzman connected on several punches. Guzman managed to take the fight to the cards, but Martinez was able to dodge and let the clock run in the final round.

Martinez ended up defeating Guzman by a split decision as one judge scored the bout for Guzman, 29-28, but the two other judges scored the bout for Martinez, 30-25 and 30-26, respectively.

After the fight, Martinez had one thing to say: “Gracias, Fresno.” He improved his professional record to 5-4-0 with the win. 

The next fight was an alternate bout between Danny “The Realist” Ramirez and Ivan “Choko” Castillo. Castillo from Mexico defeated Ramirez from the U.S. by unanimous decision, (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). 

The final fight between the two countries featured Paul Elizondo Jr. and Carlos Reyes. Elizondo from the U.S. defeated Reyes from Mexico by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:03 in the first round. 

As the event ended, the two countries split the four matches, 2-2. Martinez and Castillo won for Mexico, and Elizondo and Sanchez earned victories for the U.S.

Preliminary Results

  • Mike Tubera defeats Austin Liu via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
  • Anthony Parham Jr. defeats Brock Dias by a split decision. Two judges scored bouts for Parham, 30-26, 30-26, while one judge scored the bout for Dias, 29-28
  • Hector Fajardo defeats Shane Torres via majority decision (28-28, 29-27, 30-26)
  • Jose Avalos defeats Roger Severson via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:43 in the second round
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