Co-Main Event and Undercard Fights Announced for "Empire Rising," a World Champion MMA Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino on October 14
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Erick Sanchez vs. Victor Martinez; Bantamweight: Irwin Rivera vs. Cristobal Chavez; Women’s Atomweight: Paulina Granados vs. Jenna Serio
Live on UFC FIGHT PASS® and beIn Sports en Español
Ringside Tickets SOLD OUT!
Tickets starting at $35 are on sale now
Combate Americas, in partnership with Tuff-N-Uff and Turning Stone Resort Casino, today announced three additional bouts for “Empire Rising,” which is Combate Americas’ first ever world championship fight card. The stacked card will now include a featherweight (145 pounds) co-main event contest between streaking Urijah Faber protégé Erick Sanchez (7-2) and hard-hitting knockout artist Victor Martinez (6-4) at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. on Friday, Oct. 14, live on UFC FIGHT PASS®and beIN SPORTS En Español.
The matchup between Sanchez and Martinez will precede the much-anticipated bantamweight (135 pounds) championship showdown between red-hot stars John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (11-2) of Mankato, Minn. and Gustavo Lopez (6-1) of Las Vegas, Nev. via Yakima, Wash.
In another bantamweight contest, Blackzilians team member and rising star Irwin “The Beast” Rivera (5-1) will collide with undefeated submission expert Cristobal “El Mosquito” Chavez (4-0).
In women’s atomweight (105 pounds) action, Paulina “Firefox” Granados (3-2) will take on Jenna Serio (3-1).
Erick Sanchez vs. Victor Martinez
The 5-foot-10, 25-year-old Sanchez of Sacramento, Calif. will look for his third straight victory in La Jaula, and his fourth consecutive win overall, after submitting (rear-naked choke) Mike Segura in just 50 seconds at the third event in the Combate Americas “Road To The Championship” series in Los Angeles, Calif. on April 18.
Prior to the victory, Sanchez, who has won five of his seven professional starts by way of (T)KO or submission, scored a third round (1:22) TKO (punches) on Ousmane Thomas Diagne at Bellator 147 on December 4, 2015.
Also 25 years of age, the 25-year-old Martinez of Pharr, Texas has notched five of his six professional wins by way of (T)KO, with all five of the conquests having come with his hands.
Martinez is looking to rebound from a close, split decision defeat at the hands of Erick Gonzalez at the fourth Combate Americas “Road To The Championship” event on April 25.
Irwin Rivera vs. Cristobal Chavez
Fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla., the home of the Blackzilians fight squad, the 5-foot-6, 27-year-old Rivera, who will make his debut under the promotion of Combate Americas, was raised in New Windsor, N.Y. after being born in Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico. He jump started his professional career with a split decision victory over Andre Cuff on November 7, 2014, and ran to three consecutive wins thereafter.
In his last outing on March 25, Rivera submitted Jose Ceja in third round (4:45) of battle with a rear-naked choke.
The 5-foot-7, 26-year-old Chavez of El Paso, Texas has yet to be beaten in a combined eight professional and amateur bouts. Three of his four professional wins have come via (T)KO or submission.
Chavez is coming off a second round (4:14) submission (armlock) of Ronny Perrogon on June 11.
Paulina Granados vs. Jenna Serio
A native of Corpus Christi, Texas where she excelled in power lifting as a high school student, the 5-foot-2, 28-year-old Granados fights out of the famed Alliance MMA team in San Diego, Calif.
Granados made her Combate Americas debut in her last start on May 9, earning a split decision over longtime rival Stephanie Alba, whom Granados had defeated twice previously during their amateur days.
Serio of Brooklyn, N.Y. is a 5-foot-2, 24-year-old upstart who will enter the Combate Americas cage for the first time, riding a two-fight win streak.
In her last effort, Serio handily submitted Sadee Monserrate with a rear-naked choke in the first round (2:50) of their matchup on June 3.
A nationally recognized venue for legendary, fight-of-the-year-level boxing events, Turning Stone Resort Casino will now become one of the very first venues in New York to host professional MMA fights. With a legacy of hosting some of the best events in the country, rivaling many venues in major cities such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and New York City, Turning Stone has established Upstate New York as a premier destination for live sporting events. Turning Stone is an award-winning destination resort, offering world-class amenities including four hotels, more than 20 restaurants and dining options, two luxurious spas, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, a cabaret-style Showroom, a 5,000 seat arena, five pristine golf courses, several bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues.
Tickets for “Empire Rising” are on sale and can be purchased at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Remaining tickets are priced $65, $50 and $35, and may be subject to additional fees. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the event, and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m.
Additional bouts will be announced soon.
