Above: Enriquez (right) has been preparing for her MMA debut at Lobo Gym MMA in Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico.
In 2014, Enriquez became the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world flyweight champion after besting Ana Fabiola Arrazola Dominguez by way of unanimous decision and, in 2017, Enriquez was crowned WBC interim world light flyweight (108 pounds) champion after she scored a third round (1:57) TKO (left hook) on Maria Salinas.
COMBATE GLOBAL is no stranger to introducing professional boxers to MMA competition in La Jaula.
“Following our successful launch of boxing world champion Amanda Serrano’s MMA career, we are excited to begin Kenia’s,” said COMBATE GLOBAL CEO Campbell McLaren.
In April 2018, COMBATE GLOBAL welcomed Serrano to the MMA world.
The Puerto Rican boxing star, in her MMA debut, fought Corina Herrera to a draw and, six months later, showed marked improvement and made history by becoming the first professional boxing champion to earn an MMA victory by submission when she forced Erendira Ordonez to tap out from a standing rear-naked choke in the first round (4:23) at a Combate event in Tucson, Ariz.
COMBATE GLOBAL has also served as a home to undefeated professional boxer and Lucha Libre superstar, Dulce “Sexy Star” Garcia, who reeled off two consecutive MMA wins in 2019.
Enriquez’s opponent, the 28-year-old Valentine, hails from Northampton, England, and will be making her debut at strawweight after competing at atomweight (105 pounds) as well as a catchweight of 110 pounds over the course of her five-fight professional career to date.
Valentine holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
On Tuesday, COMBATE GLOBAL announced a new global partnership with YouTube, the world’s leading digital streaming platform, for the MMA promotion’s live events.
COMBATE GLOBAL programming will also still air in Spanish on Univision, which has been the U.S. Spanish-language television home for the promotion since 2018.