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COMBATE GLOBAL AND UNIVISION ANNOUNCE FOUR-MAN LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

By Mike Johnson on 4/19/2021 7:02 AM

COMBATE GLOBAL AND UNIVISION ANNOUNCE
FOUR-MAN LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 23
 
WINNER WILL BE CROWNED FIRST-EVER COMBATE GLOBAL
NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
 
LIVE ON UNIVISION AND TUDN USA IN THE U.S.
AND ON TUDN MX IN MEXICO
 

NEW YORKApril 19, 2021 – Combate Global and Univision Communications, Inc. today announced that a one-night, four-man lightweight (155 pounds) tournament will headline the next Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) live television event on Friday, April 23, on Univision (12:30 am ET/PT) and TUDN USA (12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m.PT) in the U.S. and on TUDN MX (11:30 p.m. local time) in Mexico from Univision’s studios in Miami, Fla.
 
The show will also re-air in Mexico on Televisa Nu9ve the following day, Saturday, April 24 at 5 p.m. local time.
 
The winner of the tournament will have defeated two opponents that night and will be crowned the first Combate Global North American lightweight champion in history.
 
“One night tournaments have become a part of Combate’s DNA, and we couldn’t think of a better way of crowning a new lightweight champion than making the champ earn the title by beating two opponents in one night,” said Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren
 
In one of the two semifinal stage matchups of the tournament, Anthony “The Shark” Avila (18-5) will square off against Alejandro “Hulk” Sanchez (9-3).
 
In the other semifinal stage bout, Tommy “The Spaniard” Aaron (7-4) will battle Luis “El Tigre” Gomez (7-4).
 
Representing the U.S., the 32-year-old Avila of Sacramento, Calif. is a member of MMA legend Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male, and is riding a five-fight win streak that last extended with his epic and gutsy performance against Mexico’s Pablo “El Gallo Negro” Sabori that resulted in a unanimous decision in favor of Avila.
 
Standing opposite Avila and representing Mexico will be the 27-year-old Sanchez of Tijuana, B.C. has earned an astounding eight of nine career victories by way of (T)KO or submission, and is coming off a first round (3:12) TKO (leg kicks) of Ruben Lozano on March 12.
 
In the opposite bracket, the 26-year-old Aaron of Los Angeles, Calif. via Tampa, Fla. is a hard-hitting, prolific puncher who is also well-versed in submissions.  After a near three-year hiatus from competition, he returned to form on February 19, forcing Gerald Scott to tap out from a rear-naked choke in the third round (3:57) of their matchup.
 
Also 26 years of age and fighting out of Miami, Gomez, who originally hails from Cuba, holds a black belt in Judo and is the only fighter in history to record a win by way of the judo throw technique, “ippon seoi nage.”  He will see action for the first time since June 2019.
 
In a tournament “alternate bout,” undefeated Cristian “Puas” Perez (3-0) of Ensenada, B.C. will take on Geraldo Almonte (3-2) of Miami via Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
 
Should either of the two semifinal stage tournament bout winners be unable to continue his tournament bid in the championship stage due to injury, the winner of the tournament alternate bout will replace the injured winner in the championship matchup.
 
In a featured women’s catchweight (119 pounds) affair, Anali Lopez Hernandez (0-1) of Minneapolis, Minn. via Reynosa, T.M., Mexico will collide with Andrea “Fortaleza” Soraluz (1-4) of Miami via Lima, Peru.
 
Leading off the undercard lineup will be a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup between unbeaten Miguel Lugo (1-0) of Yuma, Ariz. and Christopher Boasso (2-1) o Miramar, Fla.
 
 
 

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ABOUT COMBATE GLOBAL 

Combate Global, previously “Combate Americas,” is the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, rapidly becoming the number two sport after soccer for Spanish speaking fans worldwide. The company is dedicated to developing the best, new MMA athletes from different countries while matching them against one another in country vs. country-style competition.  Each year of Combate Global action culminates with “COPA COMBATE,” the toughest one-night tournament in sports that has established itself as the World Cup of MMA and the most coveted destination for representing one’s country.

 

The Combate Global franchise includes live event and original shoulder programming, and is the only MMA property regularly airing on broadcast television in both the U.S. (Univision) and Mexico (Televisa).  Nielsen research indicates that an astounding 91 percent of Combate Global viewers are not regular viewers of other MMA content, demonstrating that Combate Global has garnered a new MMA audience.
 
Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren, also the co-founder and creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has been described by New York Magazine as "the marketing genius behind the UFC,” while Yahoo Sports has said he "knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today."  Under his direction, the growth of Combate Americas’ television footprint and worldwide audience triggered a re-branding in 2021 to Combate Global.

 

ABOUT UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.
As the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the U.S., Univision Communications Inc. entertains, informs and empowers U.S. Hispanics with news, sports and entertainment content across broadcast and cable television, audio and digital platforms. The company’s top-rated media portfolio includes the Univision and UniMás broadcast networks, as well as 10 cable networks including Galavisión and TUDN, the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network in the country. Locally, Univision owns or operates 61 television stations in major Hispanic markets across the United States. Additionally, Uforia, the Home of Latin Music, encompasses 58 owned or operated radio stations, a live event series and a robust digital audio footprint. The company’s prominent digital assets include Univision.com, free AVOD streaming service PrendeTV, Univision Now, the largest Hispanic influencer network and several top-rated apps. For more information, visit corporate.univision.com.
 
About TUDN 
TUDN is the multimedia sports division of Univision Communications Inc., the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the U.S. Built around the flagship TUDN cable network, the nation’s No. 1 Spanish-language sports channel, TUDN reaches audiences across Univision’s television portfolio, as well as through the TUDN Radio Network, the TUDN mobile app and TUDN.com. TUDN possesses an industry-leading portfolio of live soccer rights through partnerships with 14 Liga MX clubs, the Mexican Football Federation, US Soccer, UEFA, Concacaf, Major League Soccer and many more.