UFC Co-Founder Teams with Combate Americas and NBC Universo for New MMA Promotion
Spanish-language network NBC Universo is about to unleash Combate
Americas’ “Most bad-ass Latino fighters” next month, with the first
event to be held in Las Vegas on Sept. 17. The new series, dubbed,
“Road to the Championship,” will embark on its maiden voyage from
the D in downtown Las Vegas.
Ultimate Fighting Championship co-creator Campbell McLaren, who was the executive producer of UFC 1, founded Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic MMA sports franchise. In teaming up with NBC Universo, the new fight series is a part of a multi-year agreement to bring more live action to the Latino community, the fastest-growing demographic in the States.
Combate Americas announced Wednesday that the inaugural event will
be headlined by Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez taking on Max
Ceniceros in a featherweight contest. Also slated to appear on
the marquee are Nicdali
Rivera-Calanoc, Ozzie
Alvarez, John
Castaneda, J.C. Llamas
and Ricky
Palacios.
Hernandez spent the early portion of his career on the regional circuit before making it to the UFC. “Junior” took on Lucas Martins and Hugo Vianna, but he came up short in both duels and was cut from the Zuffa roster. He went on to win four straight before losing in his last bout, which came via first-round TKO at the hands of Ryan Roberts.
Ceniceros has won his last six bouts, four by stoppage. Though he hasn’t yet taken on the level of competition as Hernandez up to this point, the Californian has displayed a well-rounded all-around game during his current winning streak.
The Combate Americas fight series comes one year after Combate Americas, the competition reality series, made history by becoming the first fight-themed program ever to win a major television award -- “Best Variety or Reality Series,” at last year’s 29th Annual Imagen Awards.
The event will air live on NBC Universo starting at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. A full undercard is expected to be announced shortly.
Aside from the debut show on Sept. 17, Combate Americas’ follow-up card is scheduled for Nov. 19, but an exact location is still to be determined.
Ultimate Fighting Championship co-creator Campbell McLaren, who was the executive producer of UFC 1, founded Combate Americas, the first-ever U.S. Hispanic MMA sports franchise. In teaming up with NBC Universo, the new fight series is a part of a multi-year agreement to bring more live action to the Latino community, the fastest-growing demographic in the States.
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Hernandez spent the early portion of his career on the regional circuit before making it to the UFC. “Junior” took on Lucas Martins and Hugo Vianna, but he came up short in both duels and was cut from the Zuffa roster. He went on to win four straight before losing in his last bout, which came via first-round TKO at the hands of Ryan Roberts.
Ceniceros has won his last six bouts, four by stoppage. Though he hasn’t yet taken on the level of competition as Hernandez up to this point, the Californian has displayed a well-rounded all-around game during his current winning streak.
The Combate Americas fight series comes one year after Combate Americas, the competition reality series, made history by becoming the first fight-themed program ever to win a major television award -- “Best Variety or Reality Series,” at last year’s 29th Annual Imagen Awards.
The event will air live on NBC Universo starting at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. A full undercard is expected to be announced shortly.
Aside from the debut show on Sept. 17, Combate Americas’ follow-up card is scheduled for Nov. 19, but an exact location is still to be determined.
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