Rankings Report: Combate Americas releases rankings for 2020

The day is finally here! Combate Americas rankings have been released! Take a look and see how these amazing athletes stack up against each other.

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT

Women in the Straweight (115 lbs) division have some of the most memorable fights in Combate history. The current Champ Melissa “Super Melly” Martinez is undefeated at 7-0, winning six straight in Combate, after first bursting into the promotion with a headkick KO.

Martinez is slated to face #1 Desiree Yanez in what will be an epic rematch. The second and third spot are held by Yazmin Jauregui and Criszaida Adames, who are undefeated in the promotion.

FLYWEIGHT

The Flyweight (125 lb) men have not yet crowned a champion but with fighters like the Spanish Daniel Barez (first place) and the American Michael Reyes (2nd), this is an extremely potent weight-class.

Barez arrived in Combate Americas with superstar status, defeating Ivan Hernandez Flores and the Joao Camilo. Reyes is currently on the a 3 win streak. 

Joby Sanchez is ranked third.  He had fought Jose Alday at 135, but Sanchez is seen as a contender for the belt in this division.

 BANTAMWEIGHT

Bantamweights (135 lb) have a reigning king and his name is Gustavo Lopez. Lopez is the only American Champion in Combate and has no intention of letting his belt leave the States. Finishing his last three fights in the first round, this man is making quick work of the competition. 

Marcelo Rojo is the #1 of the division, with a 6-2 record in Combate Americas and the record for most finishes in the first round. Strong victories, especially his last against Victor Madrigal, confirm the Argentine as one of the favorites to fight for the belt.

The Costa Rican Andre Barquero ranks second after finishing Eduardo Alvarado, who was on a major streak for the title.

Rounding out the division are the Mexicans Jose Alday and Victor Madrigal, followed by former Olympic wrestler Guillermo Torres, who along with champion Gustavo Lopez has the best current streak in the division (three wins).

The powerful Jesse Strader, Eduardo Alvarado and former contender Joey Ruquet are seen in the #6, #7 and #8 positions respectively, while Hector Fajardo and David Martinez close the 135-pound standings.

FEATHERWEIGHT

Hitting the scale at 145 lbs. the Featherweight men are all after one fighter, the Champion Bruno “Aquiles” Canetti. This division is so stacked in Combate Americas with warriors that have some of the promotion’s most impressive records. As active and competitive as the fighters are, we’re bound to see a shake-up. 

The number one spot is Andres Quintana, who prior to his most recent loss, had eight wins in a row. He is followed by Mexican Alejandro Flores, a finalist in the 2018 Copa Combate.

Horacio Gutierrez is in third place; however, he will be the one who faces champion Canetti, who has already defeated Andres Quintana. Alejandro Flores, who suffered an injury in late 2019, could get a chance to fight for the belt in the guture.

Peru’s Marlon Gonzales and 2017 Copa Combate winner Levy Marroquin are in the #4 and #5 spots respectively.

Gaston Reyno, Uruguay’s representative, is in sixth place, while one of the most seasoned in the promotion, Jose Estrada, is in seventh place.

The Americans Anthony Avila and Enrique Gonzalez occupy eighth and ninth place, while Peruvian Kevin Moreyra closes the featherweight rankings, after earning a great victory in Lima by finish.

LIGHTWEIGHT

Rafa Garcia remains the new undefeated champion after successfully defending his belt against Peru’s Humberto Bandenay. Bandenay had won the 2019 Copa Combate after defeating three opponents in the same night, including Erick Gonzalez, who occupies the Second place.

Erick “The Ghost Pepper” Gonzalez is followed by Marco Elpidio and the ever-dangerous Ricardo “El Loco” Arreola.

The young prodigy Daniel Zellhuber is fifth, followed by Alejandro “Pato” Martinez, who enters the rankings in 6th place after defeating Adrian Guzman (8th).

POUND FOR POUND

Lightweight champion Rafa Garcia is ranked first, followed by 115-pound champion Melissa Martinez and by the king of the bantamweights, Gustavo Lopez.

Featherweights Bruno Cannetti, Andres Quintana and Alejandro Flores remain in the #4, #5 and #6 positions respectively, while Argentine Marcelo Rojo follows them in seventh place.

Daniel Barez, who has a chance to fight for the inaugural 125-pound belt, and Horacio Gutierrez, who will challenge Bruno Canetti in 2020, occupy the #8 and #9 positions, while the winner of the 2019 Copa Combate and former lightweight contender, Humberto Bandenay, closes the pound for pound rankings.