Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will compete against ex-World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) titleholder Alberto Del Rio in the main event of Combate Americas’.
According to Combate Americas officials, a 210-pound catchweight fight, will take place on Dec. 7 in Hidalgo, Texas.
The 44-year-old Tito Ortiz (20-12-1), is currently on a two-fight win-streak, knocked out arch rival Chuck Liddell under the defunct Golden Boy MMA banner in last November and defeated Chael Sonnen by decision in his final Bellator bout. Prior to these victories, the Hall of Famer suffered a lost against Liam McGeary in a Bellator light heavyweight title fight, and defeated Stefan Bonnar and Alexander Shlemenko by decision and submission respectively. In April, Ortiz signed a multifight deal with Combate. The El Patron fight will mark his first for the promotion.
Meanwhile, the 42-year-old Alberto Del Rio (9-5), has been out of the mixed martial arts (MMA) game since 2010, since his technical knockout loss to Mamoru Yamamoto at Cage of Combat 4 in Spain. Prior to that loss, he was on a six-fight win-streak. The former pro wrestler is currently training for this fight with former Bellator fighter Javier Torres, current Bellator heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader and UFC veteran CB Dollaway, among others.
Ortiz and Del Rio recently came face-to-face to promote their Combate Americas bout. The event will also feature Combate’s first women’s strawweight title fight.
