Combate Global 56: Diaz vs. Porto is an upcoming mixed martial arts event scheduled for October 14, 2022 at the Cisneros Studios in Miami, Florida, United States.
Fight Card
Main Card
150-pound Catchweight United States Moses Diaz (4-0) vs. Brazil Juan Porto (11-3)
Welterweight Mexico Daniel Sanchez (3-2) vs. Mexico Gerardo Bazaldua (2-2)
Women’s atomweight United States Katie Perez (3-3) vs. United States Kayla Hracho (3-4)
Preliminary Card
Welterweight Gabriel Morales (4-3) vs. Scottie Stockman (4-2)
Flyweight Chile Javier Valdebenito (2-1) vs. United States Henry Beltran (0-0)
Background
Combate Global today announced its complete, five-bout Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) card, live on television on Univision (12 a.m. ET/PT) and TUDN (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT) from Miami, Fla. on Friday, Oct. 14.
In a 150-pound catchweight main event, undefeated phenom Moses Diaz (4-0) will face his toughest challenge to date in battle-tested veteran and submission expert, Juan “El Profe” Porto (11-3).
The 28-year-old Diaz of Phoenix, Ariz. will return to action for the first time since setting a new record for the fastest finish in Combate Global history by scoring an incredible, six-second knockout on Costa Rica’s Carlos Cordoba Fonseca with a right hand to the chin that immediately crumbled Cordoba Fonseca.
To date, not one of his opponents in either the professional ranks or during his four-fight amateur career has been able to take the hard-punching Diaz the distance of a fight.
A veteran of more than three times as many fights as Diaz, the 37-year-old Porto, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, is fighting out of Miami’s MMA Masters gym, and originally hails from Uruguay where he has won three different, regional MMA championships.
On May 15, Porto competed for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, submitting Nicolás Gómez Gomez with a rear-naked choke in the second round (3:15) of their matchup that took place in Brazil.
In a featured welterweight (170 pounds) contest, Daniel Sanchez (3-2) of Mexico City, Mexico will battle Gerardo Bazaldua (2-2) of Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
In a featured women’s atomweight (105 pounds) matchup, Katie “Maquina Asesina” Perez (3-3) of Cullowhee, N.C. will make her third appearance of the year in La Jaula, the Combate Global competition cage, and square off with Kayla “K-Rock” Hracho (3-4) of West Palm Beach, Fla.
The preliminary bout card will host a welterweight scrap between Gabriel Morales (4-3) of Deerfield Beach, Fla. and Scottie Stockman (4-2) of Ashland, Ore.
The event will begin with a flyweight (125 pounds) tilt between Javier “El Pantera” Valdebenito (2-1) of Santiago, Chile and Henry Beltran (0-0) of El Centro, Calif.
Diaz vs Porto
Combate Global fans got to witness Diaz for only six seconds inside la jaula that’s thanks to his quick knockout win back in June when he defeated Carlos Cordoba Fonseca. The knockout is the fastest Combate Global knockout recorded. In all, Diaz hasn’t performed much in his professional reason and for a good reason. Only one fight has gone to the second round. All of his fights have been victories by way of stoppage.
The MMA Lab fighter is a promising athlete climbing up the ranks of 145 pounds.
However, for this Friday’s fight, Diaz will compete in a catchweight fight at 150 pounds against Porto, a veteran who has been competing since 2014 as a professional.
Proto is currently training in Miami with MMA Masters. His last fight was a rear naked choke victory in the second round in May, but his training has been enhanced ever since honing his skills in the Miami gym.
All of his fights have been in South America, but on Friday he raises the level in competition as he will fight in North America for the first time in his career.
Diaz banks on his right hand. He is quick on his feet and has fast hands but get to close and he has power to knockout any opponent. Porto counts on kickboxing background. He is counter puncher so playing the distance will be key for him to earn a victory to prohibit Diaz from throwing the right hand. Porto could explore the ground where he has had much success submitting several opponents.
Perez vs Hracho
American Top Team’s Hracho returns to la jaula after a split decision defeat against Yajaira Cunningham in March. Hracho displayed great combinations and takedown defense and went toe-to-toe with Cunningham who is quick on the feet. She counts on a heavy background in boxing and wrestling.
However, Perez stands in her way and just like Hracho, she is looking to get back in the win column. Perez lost to Andrea Meneses Garcia by unanimous decision in August. The Maquina Asesina is 1-1 inside la jaula. All of her professional victories have come by way of submission.
Both women will exchange hands. Perez has will display her background in Chinese Kempo throwing many fists and kickboxing. Hracho can’t box Perez or it will back fire. She needs to keep the fight at close range to make it difficult for Perez to kick or go for a takedown.
Oct 13 - Updated fight card, poster & background