'They didn't allow us to fight': Lucero Acosta opens up on messy Combate Global split ahead of PFL debut

Combate Global, a Latin American MMA promotion, was on the verge of disappearing from the sport until it resurfaced earlier in 2026. However, the promotion's recent history is marked by a pattern of inactivity and fighters being kept out of the ring. One of Combate Global's biggest stars, Lucero Acosta, recently opened up about her struggles with the company.

Acosta, known as "La Loba," began her MMA career with Combate in 2019, and the promotion invested heavily in her. Yet, in May 2026, Acosta announced that her contract with Combate had ended, citing frustration over the lack of opportunities to fight and exclusivity issues. She explained that she had lost many chances to compete due to the company's inactivity and her inability to fight outside of Combate.

Acosta's contract with Combate included a one-year matching clause after its expiration, which allowed her to sign a six-fight, two-year deal with the PFL, a deal Combate couldn't match. Despite her claims, Combate CEO Campbell McLaren stated that the company honored its contract with Acosta and wished her luck in her post-Combate career.

Acosta, however, remains critical of the situation, expressing her disappointment and lack of support from the promotion.