Copa Combate results: Frans Mlambo wins $100K one-night tourney, bantamweight title shot

MIAMI – Frans Mlambo closed 2021 as a winner on many different fronts.

The SBG Ireland product won Combate Global’s latest edition of Copa Combate, the promotion’s annual one-night tournament. Mlambo (12-5) defeated Kevin Cordero in the final on Sunday night, going toe to toe in a wild brawl with the Spaniard. Mlambo won a split decision, outpointing Cordero (14-2) 29-28 on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

On top of the win, Mlambo earned a $100,000 prize and a shot against Combate Global bantamweight champion David Martinez. The two are expected to fight sometime in 2022.

Copa Combate, promotion’s final event of the year, consisted of eight fighters. The quarterfinal and semifinal fights were one round, and the final was contested over three rounds. All rounds were a standard five minutes.

The final between Mlambo and Cordero was a dramatic bout full of action.

Mlambo caught Cordero early to set the tempo of the fight. Cordero admirably didn’t back down and brawled with Mlambo, but he was wobbled multiple times and looked to be clearly losing the standup battle. Cordero would bring the fight to the ground halfway through the round and was quickly caught in a guillotine choke, which Cordero eventually was able to escape.

The second round had similar scenes of the first with Mlambo tagging up Cordero. The 22-year-old was able to secure a takedown and get Mlambo’s back early in the round. He spent the majority of the round landing ground-and-pound and looking to lock in a rear-naked choke.

It was an even affair going into the third with the fight very much up in the air.

The two fighters traded shots throughout Round 3. There were no takedowns attempted, just punches. Both Mlambo and Cordero had success on their own terms, but the SBG Ireland fighter connected cleanly with more significant shots.

Cordero had bested Luciano Ramos in a close bout that ended in a split decision in the opening fight of the tournament. He also picked up a brutal knockout win over Leo Muniz with just seconds remaining in his semifinal bout.

Mlambo also had a similar path. He had a close split decision win over Peru’s Jose Zarauz in the quarterfinals but bounced back strong with a dominant unanimous decision over Cristian Barraza in the semis.

Below are the full results for Copa Combate:

• Frans Mlambo def. Kevin Cordero via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – tournament final
• Kevin Cordero def. Leo Muniz via knockout – Round 1, 4:57 – tournament semifinal
• Frans Mlambo def. Cristian Barraza via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) – tournament semifinal
• Kevin Cordero def. Luciano Ramos via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – tournament quarterfinal
• Leo Muniz def. Pierre Daguzan via TKO – Round 1, 3:53 – tournament quarterfinal
• Cristian Barraza def. Carlos Briseno via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) – tournament quarterfinal
• Frans Mlambo def. Jose Zarauz via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – tournament quarterfinal

NON-TOURNAMENT BOUTS

• Ricky Bandejas def. Alan Cantu via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) – Copa Combate alternate bout
• Diego Gomez Manzur def. Felipe Vargas via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) – Copa Combate alternate bout
• Rosselyn Chavira def. Tyler Schaefer via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Caroline Gallardo def. Criszaida Adames via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)