MMA fighter Gustavo Lopez talks Combate Americas
At Combate Americas Nueve, Gustavo Lopez vies to become the promotion's first bantamweight champ. Standing in his way is John
The MMA fighter Gustavo Lopez has a chance to become Combate Americas' first ever bantamweight champion on Friday night, and he is supremely confident that he will win.
"I have no doubt in my mind," he told Fox News Latino.
The main event at Combate Americas Nueve at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y., features Lopez (6-1) facing John "Sexi Mexi" Castañeda (10-2).
"He thinks he's going to knock me out in the first round," Lopez said. "It's not going to happen."
Does Lopez, who is the child of Mexican immigrants, want to hit Castañeda more because of his "Sexi Mexi" nickname?
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"Maybe a little bit more," he admitted, sheepishly.
Lopez, 26, was the first member of his family to graduate from college when he received his degree in finance from Menlo College in Atherton, California.
"At first [my family was] like, 'Why are you fighting and not making money yet?'"
But, he said, "I'm the same guy who came from the small town of Wapato, Washington, population 2,500. I have the whole town supporting me."
Even though she is nervous every time Lopez fights, his mother is a key part of his fight night.
"I call her right before the fights. She blesses me, and I call her after and say, 'Hey, I won,'" Lopez told FNL.
Will he get to utter those words to her after the fight with Castañeda?
Lopez is certain.
"It's going to be a rude awakening when he gets into the jaula [the cage] with me," he said.









































