Tito Ortiz Destroys Alberto ‘El Patron’ in Combate Americas 51 Main Event

¡Lo enterró!
¡Lo enterró!

Tito Ortíz le gana a @PrideOfMexico por sumisión con un "mata-león". Increíble. En el primer round...

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ESTO ES @combateamericas #WhatSideAreYouOn | #TitovsAlberto | #CombateAmericas pic.twitter.com/2gWHzaCenR

— TUDN MEX (@TUDNMEX) December 8, 2019

Tito Ortiz looked similar to his once-dominant self as he destroyed former WWE star Alberto Rodriguez in the main event of Combate Americas 51 on Saturday night at Payne Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.

Ortiz tied Rodriguez (9-6) up as soon as the fight began, but the former wrestler better known as “El Patron,” suplexed Ortiz. However, Ortiz (21-12-1) reversed course on the way down and landed in side control. After Rodriguez powered back to his feet, the Mexican shot in. Ortiz sprawled nicely and from there, an old school avalanche of ground-and-pound ensued until the end.

Rodriguez rolled over to avoid the punches and elbows, but once he did, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” sunk in the rear-naked choke and began squeezing. “El Patron” had nowhere to go and had no choice but to tap out, officially ending the 210-pound catchweight battle at 3:10 of the opening stanza.

Combate Americas crowned its first-ever women’s strawweight champion in the co-main event as Melissa Martinez apparently did enough to win a split decision over Desiree Yanez. Martinez was taken down after a lengthy clinch against the cage in the first and was soundly battered in the second. “Dirty Dez” took Martinez (7-0) down early, mounted her and pounded away with punches for nearly the entire round. The second was considered a 10-8 round by many who watched according to social media posts, but when “Super Melly” did enough on the ground to win the third, she was awarded the victory. While one judge saw it 29-27 for Yanez (5-2), that score was overturned by the two other cageside officials who both had it 29-28 for Martinez, allowing her to win the inaugural 115-pound title.

Levy Marroquin survived an early onslaught of takedowns and submission attempts from fellow featherweight Enrique Gonzalez to land a win late in the first. “El Negro” avoided the aggressive attacks of Gonzalez (8-4), weathered the storm and when he saw the opening, Marroquin (12-4) latched on a guillotine. “Baby Bull” tried his best to escape but eventually bowed out at 4:53 of the opening frame.

Flyweight contender Daniel Barez survived a shaky opening round against Brazil’s Joao Antonio Camilo Neto to win a split decision. The matchup was a delight for grappling fans as the two men scored takedowns, and threatened and escaped submission attempts for three rounds. Barez (12-4) was the better overall fighter, though, and scored timely takedowns in rounds two and three to secure the win. One judge favored Camilo (6-4), but that score was overturned by the other tow officials who saw it 30-27 and 29-28 for Barez.

Professional boxer and Mexican Luchador “Sexy Star” Dulce Garcia simply wrecked the helplessly overmatched Anali Lopez Hernandez, forcing her to tap out in the opening round. Garcia (2-0) forced her foe into a slugfest almost immediately and unloaded dozens of punches to the head. Hernandez (0-1) was staggered multiple times and just as she was on the verge of being knocked out, Garcia tossed her to the ground and then latched on a guillotine when Hernandez tried getting back up. Hernandez had nowhere to go and tapped out, ending the fight at 2:47 of the first.

In the opening bout of the main card telecast, Uruguay’s Gaston Reyno dominated late-replacement opponent Rey Trujillo over three rounds in a 150-pound catchweight encounter. Reyno (9-2) scored several takedowns and mauled Trujillo (24-28) on the canvas as he threatened with submissions and landed dozens of punches. Trujillo never got his offense going and Reyno won a unanimous decision via tallies of 30-27 across the board.