Live on NBCSN: “Copa Combate” Marks First NBCU Simulcast Ever

Sheila Padilla (left) will square off with Lisbeth Lopez Silva (right) in an atomweight (105 pounds) preliminary bout at “COPA COMBATE” on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo credit: Combate Americas, LLC

NEW YORK – October 31, 2017 – Combate Americas today announced the addition of an English-language telecast of “COPA COMBATE” live on NBCSN from Cancun, Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 11, beginning at 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT. The telecast will complement the live Spanish language broadcast of the historic event on NBCUniversal’s Telemundo network, and marking the first time ever that two NBCU platforms will simulcast live Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action.

“COPA COMBATE” will be headlined by an epic, one-night, eight-man bantamweight (135 pounds) tournament that will award its winner, who will have persevered through three consecutive bouts, a grand prize of $100,000, on the 24th anniversary of UFC 1, which was executive produced by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-founder and Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren, and which was also headlined by a one-night, eight-man tournament.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer this incredible event to both the Telemundo and NBCSN audiences in Spanish and in English, respectively” said McLaren. “’COPA COMBATE’ is the first event of its kind in the MMA fight world, so being able to serve the largest group of fans possible in the U.S. under the NBC umbrella is an honor.”

“We look forward to presenting Combate Americas’ unique brand of elite mixed martial arts to our viewers,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming, NBC Sports Group.

The live simulcast of “COPA COMBATE” on Telemundo and NBCSN will feature the tournament’s semifinal stage consisting of two bouts that pit the winners of the quarterfinal stage matchups in each tournament bracket against one another, as well as the championship stage showdown.

In addition to the tournament action, Telemundo’s and NBCSN’s live television coverage of “COPA COMBATE” will feature the previously announced women’s strawweight (115 pounds) co-main event between undefeated knockout artist Melissa “Super Melly” Martinez (2-0) of Mexico City, Mexico, and submission expert and Miesha Tate pupil Gloria “Gloriosa” Bravo (4-2) of Santiago, Chile.

The entire quarterfinal stage of the tournament, as well as two tournament alternate bouts and a second women’s bout that will be announced soon, will stream live on the Telemundo Deportes En Vivo app and TelemundoDeportes.com. Coverage on NBCSN will be live streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

The eight fighters representing their respective countries on a quest to win the inaugural ‘Copa’ are as follows:

John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (14-2) of Mankato, Minn.
Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo (12-4) of Cordoba, Argentina
Carlos “Lobo” Rivera (10-2) of Mexico City, Mexico
Mikey “El Terrible” Erosa (12-5) of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Marc “Lufo” Gomez (20-10) of Barcelona, Spain
Andres “Doble A” Ayala (11-4) of Bogota, Colombia
Kevin “El Frio” Moreyra (4-1) of Lima, Peru
Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (9-1) of Mission, Texas

A lottery ball drawing to determine the quarterfinal stage matchups will take place on Thursday, Nov. 2.