Andres Quintana, Alejandro Flores, Gaston Reyno Ticketed for Combate Americas Tournament
Andres
Quintana made his intentions known loud and clear: He plans to
win the Copa Combate featherweight tournament on Dec. 7.
The Luttrell-Yee MMA standout punched his ticket to the eight-man competition, as he submitted Erick Gonzalez with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their qualifying bout at Combate Americas “Road to Copa Combate” on Friday at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Gonzalez (7-3) bowed out 2:41 into Round 1.
Quintana (15-2) -- who will represent the United States in the Copa
Combate -- countered the Fight Science rep at every turn, executed
a body-lock takedown and moved to an advantageous position. From
there, he snaked his arms around Gonzalez’s neck, tightened his
squeeze and waited for the tapout.
Alejandro Flores also advanced to the eight-man Copa Combate featherweight tournament with a unanimous decision over Pablo Sabori in their one-round qualifying bout. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 10-9 for Flores (6-1), who will represent Mexico in the Copa Combate.
Sabori (7-5) closed the distance and clinched but whiffed on his bid for a takedown. Flores answered with a stiff knee to the body and a multi-punch volley that sent his opponent reeling backward. Sabori was never the same. Flores later secured a pair of takedowns, scored a knockdown with a straight right and withstood Sabori’s last-gasp bid for a triangle choke.
Meanwhile, Bonebreakers Team prospect Melissa Martinez kept her perfect professional record intact, as she put away Francis Hernandez with a wicked body kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their women’s strawweight showcase. Martinez (5-0) closed the deal 2:33 into Round 1.
Hernandez (2-3) tried to push her favored counterpart backward and draw her into a brawl. For a time, she succeeded. However, Martinez asserted her dominance with rapid-fire kicks and punches before doubling over the Arkansas-based Puerto Rican with a front kick to the liver. Hernandez was in no condition to defend herself from the burst of punches that followed, prompting referee Herb Dean to act on her behalf.
In other action, Gaston Reyno submitted Carlos Ochoa with a rear-naked choke 2:21 into the first round of their featherweight tussle and was awarded a spot in the Copa Combate tournament; Daniel Rodriguez cut down Ozzie Alvarez with punches 2:41 into the third round of their super lightweight battle at 165 pounds; Michael Reyes tapped Hugo Aranda with a rear-naked choke 3:26 into the first round of their flyweight pairing; Dominic Clark cruised to a unanimous decision over Danny Ramirez in a three-round lightweight encounter, earning 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 scores from the judges; David Duran put away Heinrich Wassmer with punches 27 seconds into the third round of their flyweight affair; Hunter Carlyle submitted Brian Del Rosario with a rear-naked choke 2:41 into the second round of their catchweight clash at 150 pounds; and Keith Carson took a unanimous decision from Oscar Suarez in a three-round lightweight scrap, drawing 29-27, 29-28 and 29-28 marks from the judges.
The Luttrell-Yee MMA standout punched his ticket to the eight-man competition, as he submitted Erick Gonzalez with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their qualifying bout at Combate Americas “Road to Copa Combate” on Friday at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Gonzalez (7-3) bowed out 2:41 into Round 1.
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Alejandro Flores also advanced to the eight-man Copa Combate featherweight tournament with a unanimous decision over Pablo Sabori in their one-round qualifying bout. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 10-9 for Flores (6-1), who will represent Mexico in the Copa Combate.
Sabori (7-5) closed the distance and clinched but whiffed on his bid for a takedown. Flores answered with a stiff knee to the body and a multi-punch volley that sent his opponent reeling backward. Sabori was never the same. Flores later secured a pair of takedowns, scored a knockdown with a straight right and withstood Sabori’s last-gasp bid for a triangle choke.
Meanwhile, Bonebreakers Team prospect Melissa Martinez kept her perfect professional record intact, as she put away Francis Hernandez with a wicked body kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their women’s strawweight showcase. Martinez (5-0) closed the deal 2:33 into Round 1.
Hernandez (2-3) tried to push her favored counterpart backward and draw her into a brawl. For a time, she succeeded. However, Martinez asserted her dominance with rapid-fire kicks and punches before doubling over the Arkansas-based Puerto Rican with a front kick to the liver. Hernandez was in no condition to defend herself from the burst of punches that followed, prompting referee Herb Dean to act on her behalf.
In other action, Gaston Reyno submitted Carlos Ochoa with a rear-naked choke 2:21 into the first round of their featherweight tussle and was awarded a spot in the Copa Combate tournament; Daniel Rodriguez cut down Ozzie Alvarez with punches 2:41 into the third round of their super lightweight battle at 165 pounds; Michael Reyes tapped Hugo Aranda with a rear-naked choke 3:26 into the first round of their flyweight pairing; Dominic Clark cruised to a unanimous decision over Danny Ramirez in a three-round lightweight encounter, earning 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 scores from the judges; David Duran put away Heinrich Wassmer with punches 27 seconds into the third round of their flyweight affair; Hunter Carlyle submitted Brian Del Rosario with a rear-naked choke 2:41 into the second round of their catchweight clash at 150 pounds; and Keith Carson took a unanimous decision from Oscar Suarez in a three-round lightweight scrap, drawing 29-27, 29-28 and 29-28 marks from the judges.
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