Combate Americas announced its inaugural women’s world championship bout and co-main event for the highly-anticipated ‘Tito vs. Alberto – What Side Are You On?,’ live pay-per-view television extravaganza from Payne Arena in McAllen, Texas on Saturday, December 7.
Facing off in the Combate Americas world strawweight (115 pounds) championship showdown will be undefeated knockout artist Melissa “Super Mely” Martinez (6-0) and fellow world-ranked, ferocious star Desiree “Dirty Dez” Yanez (5-1).
Combate Américas anuncia primera pelea de Campeonato Mundial Femenil #TitoVsAlbertohttps://t.co/cr6exJ2RuT
— Combate Americas (@combateamericas) October 29, 2019
“This is going to be an epic showdown – ‘Super Mely’ vs. ‘Dirty Dez,’ Mexico vs. Texas – in the first Combate Americas women’s world title fight in history, right smack on the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.
The event will be headlined by the previously announced and highly-anticipated, 210-pound catchweight showdown between UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz (20-12-1) of Huntington Beach, Calif. and multiple-time WWE Heavyweight Champion and former PRIDE and DEEP MMA star Alberto “El Patrón” Rodriguez (9-5) (formerly “Alberto Del Rio” of the WWE) of San Antonio, Texas by way of San Luis Potosi, SLP, Mexico.
At stake in the matchup between Ortiz and “El Patrón” is the previously announced, winner-take-all title belt challenge that will see the victor walk away with the loser’s coveted, championship belt.
Tito Ortiz Vs. Alberto El Patron: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
At 21 years of age, Martinez of Mexico City, Mex. will aim to become the youngest Hispanic world champion in MMA history.
To date, the Combate Americas discovery turned human highlight reel and number one ranked pound-for-pound female fighter in Mexico has been unstoppable with her Muay Thai-based arsenal, notching five of her six professional career victories by way of (T)KO.
Melissa Martinez Vs. Caroline Gallardo
Similarly, the 29-year-old Yanez of Waco, Texas proved to be the real deal when she made her Combate Americas promotional debut in Hidalgo on June 21, pulverizing the previously unbeaten Paulina Vargas of Mexico into technical submission (injury) in the third round (1:54) of their matchup.
The convincing defeat of Vargas extended Yanez’s overall streak to four consecutive wins.
Desiree Yanez Vs. Paulina Vargas
Also announced today for the fight card was a featured women’s 118-pound catchweight contest between former Lucha Underground world champion and undefeated professional boxer “Sexy” Dulce Garcia (1-0) (formerly known as “Sexy Star” on Lucha Underground) and fellow MMA upstart Marisol Ruelas (1-2).
The 37-year-old Garcia of Monterrey, N.L., Mexico was the first women’s world champion in the Lucha Underground television series, and holds an unblemished, 5-0 record in professional boxing.
Garcia officially became a three-sport athlete when she made her MMA debut under the promotion of Combate Americas on April 12, dominating Mariana Ruiz Avila to earn a unanimous decision.
Ruelas is a 22-year-old prospect fighting out of Chicago, Ill. and looking to rebound from a second round (1:47) TKO (knee strike) defeat at the hands of undefeated Criszaida Adames on September 1.
Prior to the loss, Ruelas had earned an impressive, second round (2:59) submission (rear-naked choke) win over Corrie Ward in what marked Ruelas’ Combate Americas debut on March 29.
Additional bouts for the Combate Americas ‘Tito vs. Alberto – What Side Are You On?’ live television extravaganza at Payne Arena will be announced soon.
COMBATE AMERICAS ‘TITO VS. ALBERTO – WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON?’
CATCHWEIGHT (210 LBS.) MAIN EVENT:
Tito Ortiz (20-12-1) vs. Alberto “El Patrón” Rodriguez (9-5)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STRAWWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT:
Melissa Martinez (6-0) vs. Desiree Yanez (5-1)
FEATURED CATCHWEIGHT (118 LBS.) BOUT:
Dulce Garcia (1-0) vs. Marisol Ruelas (1-2)