“El Gallero” Returns, Eight New Bouts Announced for Hidalgo, Texas Event

Hard-hitting knockout artist Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (right) will make his much-anticipated return to action in the featherweight co-main event of TS-1 Promotions’ Combate Americas live television MMA extravaganza at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas on Friday, June 21. Palacios will square off with fellow rising star Cooper Gibson.

MIAMI – May 21, 2019 – TS-1 Promotions today announced eight new Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) bouts, including a featherweight (145 pounds) co-main event between hard-hitting knockout artist Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (11-1) and fellow, aggressive-minded finisher Cooper Gibson (9-2), for the Combate Americas live television show at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas on Friday, June 21.

The Combate Americas show airs live on television in Spanish in the U.S. on both Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and UDN (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT), and in English in the U.S. and Canada on DAZN (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT).

The 31-year-old Palacios of Mission, Texas is looking for his ninth consecutive victory in MMA action after scoring another highlight reel stoppage – a first round (3:56) TKO (punch and head kick) of Walel Watson on November 24.

Palacios’ unbeaten run dates all the way back to June 2015, a year after he competed on the Combate Americas reality television series that became the first combat sports themed program in history to win a major television award – “Best Variety or Reality Show” at the 29th annual Imagen Awards show in August 2014.

Gibson is a 29-year-old native of Los Angeles, Calif. looking to earn his third straight win. In his last effort, he earned a unanimous decision over Samuel Alvarez on August 25, 2018.

To date, Gibson has claimed six of his nine career victories by way of (T)KO or submission.

In the previously announced, 150-pound catchweight main event between two prolific, rising stars hailing from opposite sides of the border, Enrique “Baby Bull” Gonzalez (7-3) of Laredo, Texas will collide with Alejandro “Pato” Martinez (4-3) of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Also announced today was a featured women’s strawweight (115 pounds) contest between undefeated Paulina Vargas (4-0) and fellow up-and-coming competitor Desiree “Dirty Dez” Yanez (4-1).

Vargas of Guadalajara, Jalisco is coming off a phenomenal showing in what marked her Combate Americas debut – a second round (1:39) TKO (punches) of Erendira Ordoñez in Guadalajara on March 8.

To date, Vargas has emerged victorious in all four of her professional starts by way of (T)KO.

Yanez of Waco, Texas is looking to secure her fourth consecutive win in what will be her first start on the Combate Americas live television series. She is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Andrea Amaro on April 27.

Among the six preliminary bout card matchups announced today for the event was a lightweight (155 pounds) scrap between Elias Rodriguez (6-1) of Weslaco, Texas and Juan “The Demon” Gonzalez (6-1) of Mission.

In a bantamweight (135 pounds) matchup, David “D.J.” Fuentes (13=11) of McAllen, Texas will square off with Cee Jay “The Autobot” Hamilton (14-7) of Hartwell, Ga.

In one of two lightweight (155 pounds) fights, Raymond “The Executioner” Banda (6-3) of Harlingen, Texas will take on Edmilson “Amazonian Warrior” Freitas (7-3) of McAllen via Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

The second lightweight undercard bout will see Jose “Luke” Flores (7-1) of Mission battle Eduardo Bustillos Martinez (5-4) of McAllen via Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.

Elias Urbina (3-1) of Mercedes, Texas will collide with Carlos Martinez (5-2) at middleweight (185 pounds).

Isaac Matamoros (1-2) of Mission will meet Roy “The Red Rooster” Sarabia (0-1) of San Antonio, Texas.

Priced from $12, tickets for the TS-1 Promotions live Combate Americas television event at State Farm Arena are on sale online at CombateAmericas.com/Texas.

COMBATE AMERICAS FIGHT CARD

CATCHWEIGHT (150 LBS.) MAIN EVENT:
Enrique Gonzalez vs. Alejandro Martinez

FEATHERWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT:
Ricky Palacios vs. Cooper Gibson

FEATURED STRAWWEIGHT BOUT:
Paulina Vargas vs. Desiree Yanez

PRELIMINARY BOUT CARD:
Bantamweight: David Fuentes vs. Cee Jay Hamilton
Lightweight: Elias Rodriguez vs. Juan Gonzalez
Lightweight: Raymond Banda vs. Edmilson Freitas
Lightweight: Jose Flores vs. Eduardo Bustillos Martinez
Middleweight: Elias Urbina vs. Carlos Martinez
Featherweight: Isaac Matamoros vs. Ray Sarabia