Preview CG 2022 September 24 Combate: Reina o Nada
September 23, 2022
Miami, FL– In what could be the most watched women’s mixed martial arts contest in history, all eyes will be on Lucero “La Loba” Acosta (2-2) who meets Mariel “La Arana” Celimen (2-1) in the main event of Combate: Reina o Nada live on Paramount+ (You can download the Paramount+ app in the App store).
Also, in the co-main event the number one ranked featherweight Javier Reyes (14-3) who meets Jose “Froggy” Estrada (7-3).
La Loba vs Celimen
Last year’s fan favorite winner, La Loba, who was ailing an injury a few months ago, steps inside la jaula for the first time in 2022. The last time we saw her compete was in August 2021, where she took a split decision defeat against Chantel Coates. However, La Loba defeated Allysen Breeden back in April 2021 by way of TKO.
Acosta trains out of Gamebred Training Center located in California, but she has also trained with the Alliance MMA Gym home to Dominick Cruz and many other well-known athletes.
On the other side, Celimen, who trains at the Goatshed Academy, saw competition in April defeating Tyler Schaefer by way of rear naked choke submission in the third round. Prior to that she took a loss due to a headbutt to her opponent in September of 2021 and was victorious in her professional mma debut. She took a split decision victory over Blanca Marquez in May of last year.
Both women plainly do not see eye-to-eye. There is bad blood between these two athletes. The tension was built when La Loba stepped inside her gym for a sparring session. After a couple hand exchanges, Celimen got the best of La Loba when she submitted her via arm bar.
La Loba wasn’t having it and since then both have been exchanging several words.
Look for La Loba to come out swinging right from the start in hope of knocking out Celimen quickly. Patience will be the key in this fight and controlling emotions. La Loba needs to use the jab to keep Celimen from shooting in and work the body with her fists.
Celimen needs to exchange but fight the right opportunity to take La Loba to the ground and maybe recreate the sparring session but this time inside la jaula.
Reyes vs Estrada
Estrada is on the hunt of finding his groove. He is coming off a loss by the hands of Martin Bravo by way of arm bar last December. He trains out of Westcoast Jiu Jitsu with the likes of Michael Reyes, who competes for Combate Global.
Estrada has been a staple of Combate Global as all of his professional fights have taken place inside la jaula. This will be the first time he competes in 2022.
Reyes proved to the word that Colombia has exceptional mixed martial arts training. He showed it when he defeated Luis Gomez, a former champion, in May earning his spot as the number one featherweight. He is riding on a four fight win streak and has shown an evolution in all of his fight game.
Reyes will be the more aggressive of the two especially since he is coming in with tons of confidence after his recent victory. Estrada will exchange but he should watch out for Reyes’ ground which has evolved.