Combate Americas returns for the third time to the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, a venue that has seen some of the best action in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

This Friday, August 2, the event will be headlined by a duel between former world champion and superstar Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto (14-5) from Dublin, California, via Madera, Calif. and the three-time Central American judo champion, also multiple-time sambo champion, Reina Cordoba (9-1) from San Jose, Costa Rica.

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments of Combate Americas on their past visits to Fresno, California.

 

SABORI VS AVILA: A REAL WAR

On February 22, an important piece of Combate Americas history was made. The Mexican Pablo “El Gallo Negro” Sabori faced the North American Anthony “The Shark” Avila, in a stellar catchweight (150 lbs) fight.

From the beginning, the two fighters were determined to give a real battle. In the first round, Pablo Sabori suffered a double fracture in his jaw, however, the Aztec warrior continued to fight hard for the next three rounds.

At the end of the match, the Save Mart Center audience gave a standing ovation to the fighters for their courage, since they both put on an elite level show through every second of the match.

The judges gave Avila the win by majority decision in one of the best fights in the history of Combate Americas.

 

COPA COMBATE: ANDRÉS QUINTANA AND THE PURSUIT OF GOLD

The Copa Combate is one of the most demanding competitions in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and combat sports, where winning requires the victor defeat three opponents in the same night.

Last December, the second annual tournament was held in Fresno, where eight featherweight fighters competed for glory for their country and the grand prize of $100,000.

The American Andres “The Bullet” Quintana was the favorite to win the competition; however, he still had to prove himself, as in the world of MMA, nothing is predestined.

In the first round, Quintana defeated the talented Marlon Gonzales of Peru by unanimous decision. Later, he defeated Argentinean Bruno Cannetti by TKO, in one of the toughest fights of the tournament.

The grand final arrived, where Quintana faced Alejandro Flores of Mexico, a fighter who was also considered one of the favorites. Quintana took the win by TKO and became the second winner of the Copa Combate, after Levy Marroquín, who won it in 2017.

 

ZOILA FRAUSTO SPOKE WITH HER FISTS

One of the most important fighters in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto, made her Combate Americas’ debut on February 22 in Fresno, California.

Frausto was fighting against Jamiee Nievera, an athlete who had defeated Frausto’s sister, Stephanie Frausto, adding some interesting heat to the battle.

Frausto had returned to MMA after three years of inactivity and did so in a big way. In the first round, the Californian let go of her fists and won by technical knockout (TKO) at 1:52, sending a clear message to the rest of the division.