Combate Americas returns to Mexicali, Mexico, for its second event of the decade, and while the title fight is official, three fighters on the card did miss weight.
Headlining the event is a lightweight title bout as the undefeated Rafa Garcia will put his belt on the line against 2019 Copa Combate winner Humberto Bandenay. Garcia (11-0) has won seven straight fights inside “La Jaula,” most recently capturing the inaugural lightweight belt in September after defeating Erick Gonzalez in a fight that went the full 25 minutes. Prior to that, “Gifted” wowed in submission victories over Estevan Payan and Edgar Escarrega. The champ hit the lightweight championship limit perfectly at 155 pounds.
Despite being the same age as the champ, challenger Bandenay (18-7, 1 NC) will look to use his experience to his advantage. The Peruvian fighter had four fights inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he went 1-3, but has looked great since being released. In December, he earned his title shot by beating Gonzalez, Jose Luis Verdugo and Hugo Prada all in the same night. Bandenay looked prepared for his crack at the gold as he made weight by coming in at 154.6 pounds.
Additionally, the main card matchup of Yasmine Jauregui vs. Lourdes Salcido has been scratched as Salcido was unable to receive medical clearance. The Combate Americas Mexicali main card will air live on Friday on Axs TV starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Combate Americas Mexicali Weigh-in Results
Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Humberto Bandenay (154.6)
David Macias Ruiz (129.2) vs. Edgar Chairez (130.8)
Ana Palacios (105) vs. Laura Huizar (105.2)
Saul Cabrera Ordaz (147.8)* vs. Raul Jimenez (145)
Santiago Monreal (127)** vs. Ernesto Ibarra (125)
Roman Lopez Campos (156) vs. Cristian Perez (155.8)
Alessandro Aguilar (155.6) vs. Gabriel Villanueva (152.8)
L.J. Torres (206) vs. James Paullada (212.4)***
* Ordaz missed weight by 1.8 pounds.
** Monreal missed weight by one pound.
*** Paullada missed weight by 6.4 pounds.