Pa Lehane enters Combate Global Eight-Man One-night tournament on short notice

Pa Lehane (3-0) is set to enter a second Combate Global tournament in less than 3 months this Friday night. The SBG Cork City fighter will fly to Miami after receiving a call offering him the fight last Friday. The tournament is billed as a “UAS vs. Mexico tournament with Lehane representing Mexico. The Irishman will replace Miguel Villegas who was forced to withdraw due to injury. 

In a press release, Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren explained that Lehane is applying for Mexican citizenship ahead of the tournament.

“Although he was born and raised in Ireland, Patrick Lehane has shown this year that he fights like a Mexican, embraced Mexican culture and even gone as far as applying for his citizenship in Mexico, so he’s taking the baton from our injured Mexican fighter and will represent Mexico in this tournament that is destined to deliver much more action.”

The opening two tournament rounds will each be one five minute round with the final slated for three five minute rounds. Lehane will be relatively familiar with the format having won the four-man tournament back in August when he made his promotional debut. In his three pro fights to date, Lehane has looked exceptional, defeating experienced pros in style. His most recent win came against Isaac Ruelas in what was a three-round war.

This time round he will meet Hugo “The Hooligan” Flores (9-3) in the opening round of the tournament. Flores has fought on one previous occasion in Combate, winning via Split Decision. Before that, he fought in Lux Fight League where he brought UFC fighter Ignacio Bahamondes five rounds in an unsuccessful title challenge.

The tournament is formatted so that four fighters representing each nation will be on either side. A notable name in Jim Alers will feature in the tournament. The current brackets for the tournament are as follows. 

USA Bracket

Jim Alers (14-4) vs. Enrique Gonzales (9-4)

Samuel Alvarez (5-4) vs. Jimmy Sandlin (4-3)

Mexico Bracket

Pa Lehane (3-0) vs. Hugo Flores (9-3)

Cristian Perez (6-0) vs. Daniel Soto (15-5)