Rafa Garcia Working to Keep What Was Earned
In just three years, Rafa Garcia has shot to the forefront of Combate Americas. In September, he won the promotion’s inaugural lightweight title, and is now set to headline an event in his home town of Mexicali, Mexico, for the third straight time. However, to maintain his high status in the company, he will need to retain his newly won championship at Combate Americas 55. Against a very worthy challenger in 2019 Copa Combate tournament winner Humberto Bandenay.
“He’s a really good opponent [and] I’m taking him really seriously,” Garcia told Sherdog. “Training super hard. I’ve done a lot of things that I haven’t done in the past. I went two weeks into New Mexico. I’ve been apart from my family. Then spent one month in Orange County. Then I just finished camp this Friday. I feel like they did an eight-man tournament just to find me a contender. So that makes me train even harder. I have something on me that everybody wants. I’ve got to come there and defend it, and be the best Rafa I can be.”
Along with talking about his upcoming title defense against the Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran, Garcia went in-depth on his championship win last year.