mma / News

Alberto El Patron Says 2017 Will Be Combate America’s Best Year Yet

January 19, 2017 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

Alberto El Patron spoke with MMAjunkie for a new interview discussing Combate Americas. Some highlights are below:

On the company’s past year and plans going forward: “2016 was an amazing year for our brand, but 2017 is going to be even better. We’re having our first international event in Mexico City, and my main goal is to have Combate Americas be the No. 1 organization in Mexico. No one is going to mention UFC. It’s just going to be about us.”

On the company’s broadcast deal with ESPN Latin America: “The deal with ESPN is going to help us a lot. It’s going to help Combate get to the place where we want Combate to be. Our biggest partners in Mexico are pushing the product to the top, to the sky. All the efforts to make MMA big in Mexico are in the works.”

On being on the lookout for new talent: “Our main focus is Latin America, but we are willing to talk to and sign anyone from any place around the world. We want our fighters not just to be great athletes and great fighters, but we want them to be superstars. We want them to be famous. Because when they make money, we make money, and with more money, everyone is happy. I want all these fighters to be the next superstars of the sport. We want to find the next Conor McGregor, the next Ronda Rousey, the next Georges St-Pierre. If the company keeps doing what the company has been doing, the fighters are going to be happy and want to come and fight for us. I think we’re going to have a mainstream roster in the coming months.”

On his ambition for the promotion: “By the end of 2017, beginning of 2018, we are going to be the No. 1 MMA company in Latin America and the No. 1 MMA company in Mexico. It won’t be in the United States because we know UFC is the UFC, but we’re ready to go toe-to-toe with them in Mexico. No one is going to mention UFC in Mexico. It’s just going to be about us.”