Combate Americas brings MMA fights to downtown Las Vegas

Reporting from Las Vegas — Mixed martial arts action comes to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center when Combate Americas kicks off its “Road to the Championship” on Thursday.

The first U.S. Latino MMA franchise, founded by UFC co-creator Campbell McLaren, is behind this new, multiyear live event series that airs on NBC Universo.

McLaren created Combate Americas two years ago to serve what he calls “the fastest-growing U.S. demographic — Hispanic millennials.”

The featherweight (145 pounds) main event of the six-bout, live telecast features two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Ramiro “Junior” Hernandez (17-6) of Muscatine, Iowa, squaring off with Max Ceniceros (7-2) of La Mirada. Ceniceros is seeking his seventh consecutive victory after finishing four of his last six opponents by TKO or submission.

Combate Americas reality series stars J.C. Llamas (5-5) and Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (3-1) make their second starts in the cage.

Llamas, of Bakersfield, who was the runner-up on Combate Americas’ reality series, squares off with Ozzie Alvarez (6-2) of Brea in a welterweight (170 pounds) contest; and Palacios of Mission, Texas, faces Benji Gomez (4-4) of Ventura in a bantamweight (135 pounds) matchup.

Even women get their turn in the strawweight (115 pounds) bout, featuring Invicta FC veteran Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc (8-8) of Tulsa, Okla., going up against Katy Collins (2-1) of Branson, Mo.

Two cards still need competitors. John Castaneda (6-2) of Mankato, Minn., meets an opponent to be announced at bantamweight, and undefeated Jonathan Martinez (7-0) battles an opponent to be announced at flyweight (125 pounds).

Tickets start at $14.99.

Tickets: Ticketmaster, (800) 745-3000