Combate Global (formerly known as Combate Americas) is an Hispanic American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company founded in 2011 by current-CEO Campbell McLaren and based in New York City, New York. Its business encompasses live events, television broadcasts, and mobile content catering to a millennial audience; with the average age of viewers being 27. In 2024, Combate Global was ranked by Forbes as the tenth most valuable combat sports organization in the world, with an estimated value of .
History In December 2013, Mun2 greenlit a reality competition series called Combate Americas to air in 2014. The series would feature ten fighters in two weight classes competing for a chance to win an exclusive contract with the promotion. Founder and CEO Campbell McLaren has said that the company “was specifically created to present the best new Hispanic fighters and to introduce a whole new audience to this highly entertaining sport.”
Chino y Nacho hosted the series, while Daddy Yankee served as the first commissioner of Combate. The series culminated with Ismael Leon being crowned the featherweight champion, and Danny Morales winning the welterweight bracket.
Combate Americas was the winner of the Imagen Award for “Best Reality or Variety Series”. The show also won the 2014 Cable Fax Award for "Best Show or Series Reality/Competition/Game Show".
In 2017, Trenton Thunder Co-owner Joe Plumeri became the non-Executive Chairman of the board.
In 2018, Combate announced a live Programming Agreement with Univision Deportes. “Combate ESTRELLAS I” and “Combate ESTRELLAS II”, respectively broadcast on Friday, April 13 and Friday, April 20, would be the first live televised MMA events to air on the main Univision broadcast network and Univision Deportes.
“Combate ESTRELLAS I” delivered a total of 583,000 persons 2+, including 296,000 adults in the coveted 18-49 age group, on the Univision and Univision Deportes Network simulcast. The broadcast drew a bigger audience than Bellator 197, which aired in primetime on Paramount Network. The Facebook LIVE stream of the Combate ESTRELLAS I preliminary card delivered over 294,000 streams. In Mexico, the event delivered over 4 million live broadcast television viewers on Azteca 7. Airing exclusively on UDN in the midnight ET slot the following Friday, April 20, “Combate ESTRELLAS II” delivered another 200,000 total viewers, a 10 percent increase from the first installment of the two-part, “Combate ESTRELLAS” live event series. Of the total UDN viewers for “Combate ESTRELLAS II,” 67 percent were in the 18-49 age group. The Facebook LIVE stream garnered over 630,000 streams, more than doubling the online audience from ESTRELLAS I.
Rebranding and further television deals In March 2021, Combate Americas announced a five-year broadcasting partnership with Univision, with a plan to produce 150 televised events. It was also announced the organization would be branded as Combate Global going forward. In June of that year, Combate Global announced that CBS Sports, through CBS Sports Network and Paramount Plus, would become the English language home for Combate Global. After increased ratings, Univision Communications bought a significant equity stake in Combate Global the following month.
In 2024, Combate's English language programming moved exclusively Fuse Media's namesake cable channel. In addition, Combate Global's library content would begin streaming on the company's El Rey Rebel FAST channel.
List of events
Combate Americas: Level vs. Arzeno
December 12, 2013 - Magic City Casino, Miami, Florida, United States
Main Event: Rene Martinez vs. Alan Arzeno
Combate Americas: Alvarez vs Patterson
September 17, 2015 - The D Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Event: Gustavo Lopez vs. Mauricio Diaz FightersMethodGustavo Lopez (W) vs. Mauricio DiazDecision (Unanimous)Jay Pressley (W) vs. Irvin VelozDecision (Unanimous)Ricardo Palacios (W) vs. Benji GómezKO (Head Kick)Kyra Batara (W) vs. Nicdali Rivera-CalanocDecision (Unanimous)John Castaneda (W) vs. Justin GovernaleDecision (Unanimous)Justin Patterson (W) vs. Ozzie AlvarezDecision (Unanimous)Erick Sanchez (W) vs. Rudy MoralesSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke)Carlos Garcia (W) vs. Luis CarmonaDecision (Unanimous)
Combate Americas: Hollywood
December 16, 2015 - Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California, United States
Main Event: John Castañeda vs. Federico Lopez
FightersMethodGustavo Lopez (W) vs. Joey RuquetSubmission (Arm-Triangle Choke)Ramos Cruz (W) vs. Jonathan Santa MariaDecision (Split)Nick Piedmont (W) vs. Emilio ChavezDecision (Unanimous)Ricardo Palacios (W) vs. Anthony ParedesDecision (Split)Kyra Batara (W) vs. Liz McCarthyTKO (Punches)John Castaneda (W) vs. Federico LopezSubmission (Arm-Triangle Choke)Izic Fernandez (W) vs. Israel CruzKO (Punch)
Combate 5
April 18, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, USA
Main Event: Erick Sanchez vs. Mike Segura
FightersMethodMarcos Gonzalez (W) vs. George BurtonTKO (Punches)Richard Louie Bowen Rojo Jr. (W) vs. Michael Reyes Submission (Guillotine Choke)Jose Estrada (W) vs. Jonathan QuirozKO (Punch)Kyle Estrada (W) vs. Jonathan Santa MariaTKO (Elbows)Adam Calderon (W) vs. Kevin VazquezDecision (Unanimous)Emilio Chavez (W) vs. Angel Luis CruzTechnical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)Jonathan Martinez (W) vs. Jesse CruzSubmission (Armbar)Erick Sanchez (W) vs. Mike SeguraSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke) Combate 6
April 26, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: John Castaneda vs. Gabriel Solorio FightersMethodYoandy Carrillo (W) vs. George HernándezTKO (Punches)Joey Ruquet (W) vs. Luke FaultersackSubmission (Anaconda Choke)Christian Gonzalez (W) vs. Hector SaldanaTKO (Punches)Heinrich Wassmer (W) vs. Ramos CruzSubmission (Armbar)Paola Ramirez (W) vs. Amber TackettTKO (Superman Punch)Marcos Bonilla (W) vs. Rudy MoralesDecision (Unanimous)Kyra Batara (W) vs. Jenny SilveroTKO (Punches)John Castaneda (W) vs. Gabriel SolorioDecision (Split)Erick Gonzalez (W) vs. Victor MartinezDecision (Split)Adin Duenas (W) vs. Oliver VazquezDecision (Unanimous)Tony Lopez (W) vs. Shannon RitchSubmission (Guillotine Choke) Combate 7
May 9, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: Ricky Palacios vs. Brandon Royval FightersMethodAngel Oliveras (W) vs. Benji GomezDecision (Unanimous)Joe Vidales (W) vs. Darrio MobleyTKO (Punches)Mauricio Diaz (W) vs. Cristobal Chavez-DavilaDecision (Unanimous)Jacob Rosales (W) vs. Andrew LagadaanDecision (Unanimous)Gustavo Lopez (W) vs. Saul ElizondoTKO (Punches)Ray Rodriguez (W) vs. Art ArciniegaDecision (Split)Paulina Granados (W) vs. Stephanie AlbaDecision (Split)Ricky Palacios (W) vs. Brandon RoyvalDecision (Unanimous) Combate 8
August 11, 2016 - The Exchange, Los Angeles, California, United States
Main Event: John Castaneda vs. Angel Cruz
Fighters Method Round Time Hakob Ter-Petrosyan (W) vs. George Hernandez TKO (Punches) 2 0:00 Daniel Rodriguez (W) vs. Hector Saldana Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) 1 3:45 John Castaneda (W) vs. Angel Cruz TKO (Punches) 2 2:25 Danny Martinez (W) vs. Benjamin Vinson Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Benji Gomez (W) vs. Heinrich Wassmer Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Albert Tapia (W) vs. Jonathan Santa Maria Decision (Majority) 3 5:00 Marcos Bonilla (W) vs. Izic Fernandez Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Jose Estrada (W) vs. Christian Cardona KO (Punches) 1 2:34 Erick Gonzalez (W) vs. Yoandy Carrillo TKO (Punches) 2 3:13 Jonathan Quiroz (W) vs. Ryan Lilley Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00
Combate 9: Empire Rising
October 14, 2016 - Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, United States
Main Event: John Castaneda vs. Gustavo Lopez
Fighters Method Round Time John Castaneda (W) vs. Gustavo Lopez TKO (Punches) 4 2:24 Julian Marquez (W) vs. Matt Hamill TKO (Punches) 1 1:22 Marc Stevens (W) vs. Victor Reyna Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Jose Ceja (W) vs. Irwin Rivera KO (Punches) 1 4:22 Paulina Granados (W) vs. Jenna Serio Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 James Rodriguez (W) vs. Alex Henry Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1 2:03 Matt Almy (W) vs. Freddy Arteaga TKO (Kick to the Body Punches 1 2:59
Combate 10
January 19, 2017 - El Plaza Condesa, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico
Main Event: Gustavo Lopez vs. Steve Swanson
Fighters Method Round Time Christofer Ramirez (W) vs. Heriberto Tovar TKO (Punches) 3 3:16 Alex Velasco (W) vs. Julio Cesar Cruz Submission (Guillotine Choke) 2 0:47 Gustavo Lopez (W) vs. Steve Swanson Submission (Guillotine Choke) 1 2:34 Lisbeth Lopez Silva (W) vs. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 3:07 Joey Ruquet (W) vs. Jose Ceja Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 2 1:47 Mark Delarosa (W) vs. Ivan Hernandez Flores Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) 2 3:11 Marco Antonio Elpidio (W) vs. Rodrigo Vargas Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Rafa Garcia (W) vs. Raul Najera Ocampo Submission (Heel Hook) 1 1:04 Enrique Barragan (W) vs. Kevin Garcia TKO (Punches) 2 0:48
Combate 11
February 16, 2017 - Burbank, California, United States
Main Event: Danny Ramirez vs. Erick Gonzalez
Fighters Method Round Time Albert Tapia (W) vs. Benji Gomez Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Heinrich Wassmer (W) vs. Heber Castillo Submission (Armbar) 1 4:57 Alyssa Garcia (W) vs. Kaiyana Rain Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Danny Ramirez (W) vs. Erick Gonzalez Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Jose Estrada (W) vs. George Hernandez Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 2:09 Andres Quintana (W) vs. Erick Sanchez Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Rudy Morales (W) vs. Izic Fernandez Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Javier Garcia (W) vs. Donte Stubbs Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 3 0:58
Combate 12
March 30, 2017 - Fausto Gutierrez Moreno Municipal Auditorium, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Main Event: Marcelo Rojo vs. Ivan Hernandez Flores
Fighters Method Round Time Alex Velasco (W) vs. Christofer Ramirez Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Levy Saul Marroquin Salazar (W) vs. Pablo Sabori Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Irving Hernandez (W) vs. Jose Alday TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 2 5:00 Marcelo Rojo (W) vs. Ivan Hernandez Flores TKO 1 2:06 Alejandro Flores (W) vs. Walter Zamora Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Erick Gonzalez (W) vs. Marco Antonio Elpidio Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Ramon Lopez (W) vs. Marcos Bonilla Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Jose Aguayo (W) vs. Gilberto Santos Submission 1 2:23 Christian Giovannie (W) vs. Angel Gonzalez Submission 3 1:12 Edgar Chairez (W) vs. Oscar Quintero Submission 1 1:19
Combate 13
April 20, 2017 - Casino Del Sol Resort, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Main Event: Ricky Palacios vs. Roman Salazar
Fighters Method Round Time Ricky Palacios (W) vs. Roman Salazar Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Kevin Natividad (W) vs. Chad Dietmeyer Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1 4:23 Daniel Rodriguez (W) vs. Joel Champion TKO (Punches) 1 1:55 Erick Sanchez (W) vs. Randy Steinke Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Victor Reyna (W) vs. Andrew Perez TKO (Punches) 1 1:53 Jose Palencia Jr. (W) vs. Justin Rascon Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Arturo Guzman (W) vs. Robert Caspar Decision (Split) 3 5:00 Alesha Zappitella (W) vs. Stephanie Alba Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00 Levi Escobar (W) vs. Cedric Katambwa Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00 Francisco Rodriguez (W) vs. Jeremiah Garber Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Combate 14
May 5, 2017 - Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, California, United States
Main Event: Emilio Chavez vs. Jose Estrada