Mixed martial arts promoter AFL MMA brings fourteen bouts, featuring professional title fights and amateur showcases, to Santander on Friday building on previous events in Santa Cruz de Bezana to expand the sport across northern Spain.
- Prospect Stock: Featherweight title contender Gonzalo González enters the bout with momentum following his interim belt status.
- AFL’s expansion from 1,000-spectator events in Bezana to municipal collaborations in Santander highlights the promotion’s activity and growth.
“There’s probably less respect in the stands at a football match than at an event like this, or fewer insults. It’s an aggressive sport, but not with extreme violence, even though it’s a contact sport. I encourage people to experience it; they’ll have a lot of emotions and won’t forget it,” said a man from Cantabria.
The event at the La Ballena facility features six professional matches and eight amateur contests. Municipal collaborations with the city councils of Santander and Santa Cruz de Bezana support the card. The promotion aims to display elite competition alongside grassroots development.
“It also has a lot of spectacle, a show, in addition to the fights. For any type of audience… If they go, they’ll want to come back,” the Cantabrian told Onda Cero Radio.
Jonathan García known as ‘La Bestia’ faces Daniel Requeijo called ‘El Gallego’ for the professional featherweight championship belt. García arrives following a technical knockout win in Hexagone MMA. Requeijo returns from retirement aiming to secure a championship finish.
Abraham Roqueñi nicknamed ‘El Demonio’, a world kickboxing and Muay Thai champion alongside his 2004 K-1 MAX Spain victory, makes his professional MMA debut. He meets David Herrera known as ‘El Carnicero’, who holds four professional wins by knockout. Meanwhile, Mohamed Touré (‘Prince’) and Mihai Dogaru (‘El Halcón’) meet in a professional rematch nearly four years after their initial amateur bout.
| Fighter | Division | Notable Credential / Record |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Garcia | Featherweight | Comes off TKO win in Hexagone MMA |
| Daniel Requeijo | Featherweight | 21 professional victories, 19 by finish |
| Abraham Roqueñi | Professional Debut | World kickboxing and Muay Thai champion |
| Orisha Colorado | Bantamweight (Amateur) | Undefeated 4-0 record |
Three amateur belts stand on the line as Ayman Zekhnini vacates the featherweight and bantamweight titles to turn professional. Interim champion Gonzalo González faces Rafo Manukyan for the absolute featherweight belt. In the bantamweight division, undefeated fighter Orisha Colorado meets interim champion Oussama Aouli.
The amateur lightweight division features Samuel Tabi against Valentín Nifanti, who carries a 10-0 record. Regional gyms including CD Tibet, GAMAN, Praxis, Kuraia, and Solum contribute emerging prospects to the preliminary bouts.
AFL held its inaugural event, AFL 1, in Barcelona on May 10, 2014. The organization subsequently ran AFL Underground Series events in Santa Cruz de Bezana throughout 2025, drawing roughly 1,000 spectators before scaling up to the current Santander arena collaboration.
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