Six months after becoming the first Mexican-born fighter to win the Combate Americas Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) World Championship, Jose Alday will have to defend his title.
Alday (12-3-1), who goes by 鈥淓l Pochito鈥 in the cage and is the first world champion in Combate Americas history, will fight Gustavo Lopez 鈥 again.
The main event rematch will take place at the Casino Del Sol Event Center Friday at 7 p.m. The co-main event will feature bantamweights Eduardo Alvarado and Andy Perez.
鈥淚t was a very close fight, very intense,鈥 Alday said of the title fight in September. 鈥淐ombate wanted to see it again and so did the fans. So, we鈥檙e ready to not leave any doubts this time around.鈥
Last year鈥檚 fight in Phoenix, which saw back-and-forth action over three rounds that resulted in a split decision, was special for Alday for a multitude of reasons.
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The fight took place on Alday鈥檚 27th birthday, and a year after being allowed back into the United States. The Ironwood Ridge High School grad had been deported in 2011, which inspired him to finally take up fighting 鈥 something he had avoided while living in 蜜柚直播 due to his immigration status.
鈥淚t was very cool to be able to represent my country,鈥 Alday said of his first title win. 鈥淓ven though I lived in the U.S. for a while, (Mexico) is where I was born and where my roots are. I鈥檓 happy to live here, but I鈥檒l always have Mexico running through my veins.鈥
In last year鈥檚 fight, Alday got injured in the first round and wasn鈥檛 able to fight the way he would have liked until the end. This time around, he鈥檚 been working on getting more aggressive with his hits.
鈥淚t鈥檚 no secret 鈥 he鈥檚 going to want to take me down,鈥 Alday said of Lopez (9-4).
But Alday, who鈥檚 trains at Rise Combat Sports, is going to be ready for the rematch.
鈥淚 never train to lose 鈥 I always train to win,鈥 Alday said.
鈥淎nd even better, all of my people will be here. My family will be here. And because we鈥檙e so close to Sonora, where I was born, it鈥檚 like we鈥檙e fighting in Sonora as well.鈥
Friday鈥檚 match will also be the first time Alday fights in 蜜柚直播. The home-ring advantage, if that鈥檚 a thing, isn鈥檛 lost on him 鈥 especially because his opponent trains out of Las Vegas.
鈥淚 was born in Mexico, but 蜜柚直播 鈥 and 蜜柚直播 鈥 has been my home for many, many years,鈥 Alday said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never had the chance to fight here 鈥 this is my first time 鈥 and I鈥檓 really excited to fight in front of my people.鈥
Contact reporter Norma Gonzalez at 520-262-3265 or ngonzalez@tucson.com.
Norma Gonzalez
Sports reporter
