Day 3 of the 2023 IMMAF Pan American Championships showcased breathtaking action as the Male Senior Semi-Finals came to a head.
One of Mexico’s top prospects, Jorge Cobos Marin, demonstrated why there is such a buzz around his name, shutting down talented Peruvian Jose Ayquipa, and claiming his spot in the flyweight finals. Marin will face off against a veteran of the 2022 IMMAF World Championships in Luiz Henrique, who has gone 2-0 in the Pan American Championships so far.
At lightweight, the marquee division of MMA, Colombia’s Carlos Felipe Grajales Gutierrez showcased an impressive array of skills to lock in a spot opposite talented grappler, Andrew Carvajal, in what promises to be a highly competitive 155lb finale.
Despite fielding a significantly smaller squad than the like of Mexico, Colombia or USA, El Salvador will have an athlete representing them in the finals. 27-year-old Rodrigo Jose Lopez Calderon overcame potent KO artist Ijaz Cave in the middleweight semi-finals, setting up an all-action bout vs. Team USA’s Jake Christensen. The American has a 100% finish rate in the tournament so far, with his move down from light heavyweight appearing to be paying dividends.
Up at the Super Heavyweight division, 2022 Pan American silver medallist Anthony Ramirez scored an impressive TKO over Lincoln Nazareno. The native of Puerto Rico is set for a showdown in the finals against IMMAF newcomer, Gerardo Daniel Trujillo Munguia, another product of the streaking Team Mexico.
Also taking place on the same day, as part of the BRAVE CF Pan American Combat Week, was the main event of Brave 73. The bout comprised of a 5 round fight for the vacant bantamweight title, and featured two former IMMAF champions in Jose Torres and Nkosi Ndebele.
After a closely contested affair, it was the former two-time IMMAF World Champion, Jose Torres, who was left with his hand raised and the bantamweight belt around his waist.
Find out all the results from Day 3 of the 2023 IMMAF Pan American Championships right here.
