Rey Mysterio Named Combate Americas Ambassador

NEW YORK – December 9, 2015 – Decorated, former three-time WWE world champion Rey Mysterio has been named ambassador of Combate Americas, the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history founded by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-creator Campbell McLaren, and will debut in his new role at the much-anticipated “Road To The Championship Hollywood,” nine-bout professional fight card live on NBC UNIVERSO, the modern entertainment and sports cable channel for Latinos, onWednesday, Dec. 16 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In addition, former WWF and WCW superstar Konnan, often referred to as the “Mexican Hulk Hogan,” will serve as color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Ricardo Celis and Andrea Calle, the hostess of the Imagen Award-winning Combate Americas reality television series.

“I am excited to join Combate Americas on NBC UNIVERSO, and look forward to building this incredible MMA sports brand and supporting the extremely talented athletes on its growing roster,” said Mysterio, whose exciting, high-flying style of wrestling helped him earn a total of 21 championships between his stints in the WWE and WCW.

“Combate Americas embraces the great Mexican tradition of Lucha Libre, so we are honored to bring Rey Mysterio, a global icon and one of the premier Hispanic figures in sports entertainment, on board as our ambassador and are confident that he can inspire our fans and fighters,” said McLaren.

Among the collection of rival superstars that Mysterio has defeated during his career are C.M. Punk, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle.  During an epic 2006 Royal Rumble Match, he battled for more than one hour, a WWE record for longest time spent in the ring, and dumped the likes of Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam and Triple H on his way to victory of the 30-man elimination contest.

Priced from $40, tickets for “Premier Insurance Services and Aspira Mas Present Combate Americas: Road To The Championship Hollywood,” are on sale at www.HollywoodFightNight.com.

All fighters will weigh-in for the event on Tuesday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5 p.m. PT at The Marriott, located at 2500 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank, Calif.  All 18 fighters competing on the nine-bout card will weigh in for their respective bouts.

In the bantamweight (135 pounds) main event of the live, four-fight telecast on NBC Universo, 23-year-old sensation John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (8-2) of Mankato, Minn., fresh off his victory at the inaugural “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship” event in Las Vegas, Nev. on September 17, will square off with fellow striking sensation Federico “Kiko” Lopez (10-5) of Murrieta, Calif.

Castaneda is looking for his fourth consecutive win while Lopez is seeking his sixth straight win.

In the bantamweight co-main event, Combate Americas reality television series star and power puncher Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (5-1), of Mission, Texas will square off with dangerous scrapper Anthony Paredes (3-2) of Murrieta, Calif.

In a featured women’s atomweight (105 pounds) attraction on the live telecast, 21-year-old Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (3-3) will collide with fellow Las Vegas resident “Lightning Liz McCarthy (2-3).

The live NBC UNIVERSO telecast will kick off with a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup between Urijah Faber protégé and prolific finisher Erick Sanchez (5-2) of Sacramento, Calif. and fellow rising star “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (3-3) of Las Vegas.

Doors at Florentine Gardens open at 5 p.m. PT for the event, and the first of five preliminary bouts will begin at 6 p.m.