Combate Americas recently held its 43rd event in Mexicali, Mexico on Friday. Here are the betting results of the fights, as explained by MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas.
In the main event for the lightweight title, Rafa Garcia opened -1000 with Erick Gonzalez +600. Gonzalez jumped ahead early in the fight, taking round one, but Garcia dug deep, fighting through adversity and winning rounds two and three to take the unanimous decision and the belt. Garcia closed -875 with the comeback on Gonzalez +475 with the betting public coming in a little more on the dog, and they were looking smart early at the steeps odds, but the sportsbooks took a small profit.
In the co-main event at strawweight, Yazmin Jauregui opened a huge -1350 favorite with the comeback on Yajaira Romo at +650. The betting public took the bait, , closing Jauregui at -620 with Romo closing +414, cutting the price in half. That ended up being a donation to the sportsbooks when Jauregui easily won all three rounds to take a unanimous decision. The sportsbooks won pretty solidly on this fight.
Flyweight Alberto Trujillo opened +180 and closed +119, with the betting public betting the underdog. His opponent Edgar Chairez opened -230 and closed -151. It was a competitive fight, with Trujillo had an eye nearly swollen shut early, but he utilized his wrestling to win a unanimous decision and pull off the slight upset. The sportsbooks took a semi-hefty loss in this fight.
In light heavyweight action, Eliezer Ortega opened a -405 favorite. Sharp and public action came in on his opponent, LJ Torres, who opened +285 and closed +141, with Ortega closing -181. Ortega had a strong ground advantage and he utilized it, scoring a submission in the final minute of the first round. The betting public and sharp action lost their asses in this one, according to Kalikas.
In a battle of Perezes at featherweight contest, Jair Perez opened -225 with the comeback on Cristian Perez +175. Jair Perez missed weight and the line closed at -115 pick ’em, with heavy action coming in on the underdog. Cristian Perez took top position throughout the fight, controlling enough of the bout in a competitive but clear decision. The sportsbooks took a lump on this one and Kalikas admitted he felt he opened Jair Perez too high.
In an atomweight fight Laura Huizar opened -150 with the comeback pro debuter Karla Almaguer +110. There wasn’t much action on this fight, as Huizar closed a -185 favorite by the time lines closed, with Almaguer closing +150. The bout was competitive, but Huizar’s experience edge was clear as she connected on the heavier blows, eventually scoring a TKO late in round two. The sportsbooks lost tiny here.
In another featherweight contest, Gilberto Santos opened -185 with the comeback on opponent Carlos Ochoa +145. The public came on the underdog as Santos closed -123 with Ochoa -107. Santos made the public look silly, defeating Ochoa via armbar submission late in the first round, taking advantage of his primary path to victory and earning the biggest win of his career. The sportsbooks won decent here.
In a flyweight fight, Gabriel Valdez repeated history against Santiago Monreal. Valdez beat Monreal as an amateur and he opened as a -250 favorite with the comeback on Monreal +190. The public believed in Monreal, dropping the line to -140 Valdez and +110 Monreal. The fight was competitive with the fighters splitting rounds one and two, but Valdez made it deja vu by winning the third round and the fight. The sportsbooks cashed in pretty well on this contest
Overall, it was a profitable evening for the sportsbooks for Combate Americas 43. The next Combate event is September 27 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Quick results
Main Card
155 lb. title: Rafa Garcia defeats Erick Gonzalez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
115 lbs.: Yazmin Jauregui defeats Yajaira Romo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
125 lbs.: Alberto Trujillo defeats Edgar Chairez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Preliminary Card
205 lbs.: Eliezer Ortega defeats LJ Torres via Submission (Kimura) at 4:05 of R1
145 lbs.: Cristian Perez defeats Jair Perez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
105 lbs.: Laura Huizar defeats Karla Almaguer via TKO (Punches) at 4:40 of R2
145 lbs.: Gilberto Santos defeats Carlos Ochoa via Submission (Armbar) at 4:29 of R1
125 lbs.: Gabriel Valdez defeats Santiago Monreal via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
150 lbs.: Danny Silva defeats Alejandro Corrales via TKO (Punches) at 2:08 of R3
265 lbs.: Oscar Cota defeats Christofer Plascencia via TKO at 5:00 of R1
