King of the Cage will be returning to the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, NM, July 8, with “Chosen Few”. The main event will see current 3 division champion Juan Archuleta, defending the KOTC Bantamweight (145lbs.) title against Vince Murdock.
Archuleta a member of Joe Stevenson’s Corba Kai and is the current King of the Cage champion at Lightweight (155), Bantamweight (145), & Flyweight (135). King of the Cage dose there weight classes slightly different then most promotions. Archuleta is nicknamed the “Spaniard” and is on a 11 fight win streak, 5 stoppages, 4 of which are by knockout.
Murdock is a Michigan native, training in Sacramento, California, at Team Alpha Male. Murdock has won 5 of 6 and 2 straight. Eight of Murdock’s 10 win are by stoppage, 6 by TKO or knock out.
In a featured woman’s Atomweight contest Jayme Hinshaw of Fit NHB, faces Kelly Vilarino of Ashland Jiu Jitsu Academy in Ashland, Oregon.
At Featherweight former KOTC amateur Lightweight champion Jess “Vanilla Gorilla” Martinez welcomes former KOTC Amateur Flyweight champion Esias Gordo to the pro ranks. In April Martinez made his pro debut scoring 2nd round knock out of David Maldonado. Gordo ends his amateur run 9-0 and last fought in October knocking out Daniel Nieto, with a knee from the thia clinch.
Also making his pro debut will be JacksonWink fighter and former KOTC amateur Lightweight champion Chris Brown, who’ll be taking on Andy Varela from 10th Planet El Paso in El Paso, TX. Brown went 4-0 as an amateur capturing the KOTC Lightweight championship in April demolishing Raymundo Leon. Varela also went 4-0 as an amateur, but is 1-1 as a pro, looking to rebound from a April TKO loss.
Coming off a successful pro debut win at KOTC: Starbound, Fit NHB’s Sherwin Price will square off with Shem Prieto out of El Paso, TX.
KOTC Jr. Flyweight champion Tim Sosa is expected to be in the card, but is waiting for an opponent, like his FIT NHB teammate Frank Baca, and Jon Sparks of JacksonWink MMA. Brenda Gonzales-Means is on some posters but her fight has unfortunately been canceled.
The event win also feature a exciting amateur card expected to feature names like Ronald Smith, Chris Rojas, Tyler Wisdom, Sterling Peak, Aaron Montano, James Barrera, Shania Arrendabdo, Chase Emerer, and Ozzy Chavez.
145 Title: (c) Juan Archuleta (15-1) vs. Vince Murdock (10-3)
105: Jayme Hinshaw (1-3) vs. Kelly Vilarino
145: Jess Martinez (1-0) vs. Esias Gordo (0-0)
155: Chris Brown (0-0) vs. Andy Varela
155: Sherwin Price (1-0) vs. Shem Prieto
135: Tim Sosa (9-5) vs. TBA
145: Frank Baca (14-3) vs. TBA
145: Jon Sparks () vs. TBA
