MMA Fighter Jose “El Pochito” Alday Overcomes Challenges in Life; A Fighter with True Grit

“El Pochito” Will Highlight the Main Event on June 7 in Tucson

By Francisco Romero.- A victim of current United States immigration laws, Jose Alday was
faced with the reality of deportation to Mexico at the age of 20 after living in Tucson, Arizona for
more than a decade.

Mixed Martial Arts became the vehicle that has brought the young fighter back to the city where
he grew up and went to high school.
“It was tough being away from my family, it was tough being away from mi girlfriend,” said the
former Ironwood Ridge High School student. “I had visited Mexico in the past, but only to visit,
once I got there I was kind of lost.”

Looking towards the future and a way to get back to the United States, Alday started training
Mixed Martial Arts in Hermosillo, Sonora, his new home.
“Mixed Martial Arts was my way out,” said Alday. “I started training with a purpose in mind, to
get back home and to become a champion.”
A champion he became and a way to make it back to the place where he called home since he
was a child.

“It was a great feeling when I finally came back to Tucson; first of all, the fear of being stopped
by law enforcement and getting deported was not there.”

“I remember when I was undocumented and on my way to school, I was always afraid of being
stopped, that feeling is now gone.”

What remains is the feeling of being hungry for more success in Mixed Martial Arts.
“El Pochito” Alday will be returning to Tucson for “Combate America’s: Tucson Unbreakable”
event on Friday, June 7 at Casino del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater.

The former world bantamweight (135 pounds) champion (12-4-1) will square off against
Argentinian Juan Pablo “El Molo” Gonzalez (7-2-2).
“It will be a tough match," el Pochito told us. “My opponent, just as me, is coming off a loss, he
is a tough fighter, one that has also gone through a great deal of personal issues in his journey
to becoming a mixed martial arts fighter, so we both are hungry for a win and we will give it our
best, expect the best”.
Ah, and where does the nickname “El Pochito” come from? That happened to Jose because he
was gone for so long and when he returned to Mexico, he had trouble acclimating to the
language, so his friends teased him and called him “El Pochito.” At first, he didn’t like it, but it
eventually embraced it.

As he also embraces fighting it Tucson, “I love fighting in Tucson, it has become a great way to
get the family together”.

Jose Alday

“El Pochito” expects a packed house along with friends and family.

“Combate
Americas: Tucson Unbreakable”  on June 7, and the first preliminary bout will
begin at 7 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

“CRICKET WIRELESS PRESENTS COMBATE AMERICAS: TUCSON UNBREAKABLE”
FIGHT CARD
BANTAMWEIGHT MAIN EVENT
Jose Alday vs. Juan Pablo Gonzalez

LIGHTWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT
Rafa Garcia vs. Estevan Payan

FEATURED STRAWWEIGHT BOUT:
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Codie Wareham

PRELIMINARY BOUT CARD:
Catchweight (190 pounds): Javier Torres vs. Joel Champion
Bantamweight: Eduardo Alvarado Osuna vs. Jose Luis Calvo
Flyweight: Justin Rascon vs. Jesus Rivas