Preview: CG2022 April 8 Diaz vs Marconetto
April 6, 2022
Miami, FL- It’s a European main event at 115 pounds between the return of Muay Thai practitioner Claudia Diaz facing on newcomer Italy’s Manuela Marconetto.
The upcoming CG2022 April 8 fight card will air on Paramount Plus starting with a pre-show at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Also, in the co-main event Mexico’s Irlanda Galindo takes on Anna Somers at 105 pounds.
Here’s what to expect from these bouts.
Diaz vs Marconetto:
This will be Diaz’s third appearance inside la jaula. In her debut, she put a quick stop by knocking out the then undefeated Dulce Garcia, who has a significant background in combat sports. Diaz’s performance left Garcia busted open.
In August, she competed in the all-women’s tournament where she lost by split decision to Paulina Vargas. The bout was only one five-minute round due to tournament rules.
As for Marconetto, she had her professional debut back in 2017 and lost by majority draw. She returned to action this January defeating her opponent by way of decision. Although she has competed twice at the professional level, she has an ample amount of experience as a kickboxer competing multiple times.
Diaz has a decorated background in muay thai training with the Tiger Muay Thai camp in Thailand, where world champions like Valentina Shevchenko hone their skills. However, for this camp she has been perfecting her crafts in Texas at the Main Street Muay Thai and Boxing and 4 oz. Fight Club, where the likes of Daniel Pineda trains.
Marconetto trains with Great Britain Top Team with veterano mixed martial artist turned head coach Brad Pickett.
This is a fight between two stand up fighters. Marconetto said she took a break from competing professionally to perfect her craft and become a true mixed martial artist. For Diaz, this is the perfect fight because more than likely the fight will remain stand up, where she has had much success.
There are differences between kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters. Elbows aren’t used, for the most part, in kickboxing, yet in Muay Thai elbows and knees are allowed. Hence, that is why the sport is called the art of eight limbs.
Muay Thai fighters tend to be more on the aggressive offensively while kickboxers depend more on their fast-paced kicks including the round house.
Expect a three round battle between two aggressive battle born athletes.
Galindo vs Somers:
Not even 20 years-old, Galindo, who trains with Renzo Gracie Polanco, has two professional bouts under her belt. Her last fight was her lone defeat against an experienced Gloria Bravo by way of unanimous decision. The Mexican said she learned a lot from her defeat, so on the upside the loss made her better. She has been focusing on specific areas to improve, she said.
In her debut back in August 2021, she upset Maraya Miller by way of rear naked choke.
As for Somers, it will be her CG debut and her second professional bout. She is in good hands as her husband, Dany Somers, is also a mixed marital artist. Her start in the world of combat sports started with kickboxing, but she practically eats and sleeps martial arts as her and her husband own Intercept MMA, a gym located in Forest Park, Illinois.
Galindo has a good ground game, so it would be significant for Somers to use the distance to discourage her opponent from shooting in for a takedown.