Hype Fighting will debut in Santiago, Chile, on Dec. 20 at Santander Arena, headlined by Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Colby Covington under submission rules; tickets go on sale Oct. 30.
What we know
- Covington is booked to fight Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, 2026.
Reported, not confirmed
- Hype Fighting's Chile debut is scheduled for Dec. 20 at Santander Arena in Santiago. Fajador
- The Bahamondes vs. Covington main event will be fought under submission rules. Fajador
- Covington is the former UFC interim welterweight champion and the current RAF Wrestling champion. Fajador
- Ten more bouts are still to be announced for the card. Fajador
- Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 30 through PuntoTicket. Fajador
Hype Fighting has picked a headliner with local pull for its first night in Chile. Ignacio "La Jaula" Bahamondes, a Chilean, will face Colby Covington in the main event on Dec. 20 at Santander Arena in Santiago, and the bout will be fought under submission rules rather than as a standard MMA fight.
The format changes the question. Covington is the former UFC interim welterweight champion and currently holds the RAF Wrestling title, so his background is built around control and pressure. Bahamondes, 29, is the taller man at 6 ft 1 in against Covington's 5 ft 11 in, and he gets the home crowd. Covington is 28 and already has another date booked: he meets Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, which comes about five weeks before the Hype card.
The co-main event crosses disciplines. Gaston "Tonga" Reyno, a 39-year-old Uruguayan known for MMA and bare-knuckle boxing, meets Ecuadorian boxer Andrés "Cauchito" Muñoz. Reyno most recently beat Josh Krejci in the main event of BKFC Uruguay, and this will be his first fight in Chile. Muñoz is 14-2-1 as a boxer, according to Fajador, and debuted for Hype on its Ecuador card with a unanimous decision over Ricardo Nunes.
Two fights are the only ones named so far. Ten more bouts are to be announced soon, so the full shape of the night is still unknown. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 30 through PuntoTicket.
Watch for the rest of the card and for how Covington's Nov. 14 fight goes, since it will shape how he arrives in Santiago.
The format changes the question. Covington is the former UFC interim welterweight champion and currently holds the RAF Wrestling title, so his background is built around control and pressure. Bahamondes, 29, is the taller man at 6 ft 1 in against Covington's 5 ft 11 in, and he gets the home crowd. Covington is 28 and already has another date booked: he meets Khamzat Chimaev at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, which comes about five weeks before the Hype card.
The co-main event crosses disciplines. Gaston "Tonga" Reyno, a 39-year-old Uruguayan known for MMA and bare-knuckle boxing, meets Ecuadorian boxer Andrés "Cauchito" Muñoz. Reyno most recently beat Josh Krejci in the main event of BKFC Uruguay, and this will be his first fight in Chile. Muñoz is 14-2-1 as a boxer, according to Fajador, and debuted for Hype on its Ecuador card with a unanimous decision over Ricardo Nunes.
Two fights are the only ones named so far. Ten more bouts are to be announced soon, so the full shape of the night is still unknown. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 30 through PuntoTicket.
Watch for the rest of the card and for how Covington's Nov. 14 fight goes, since it will shape how he arrives in Santiago.
- Summary
- Hype Fighting will debut in Santiago, Chile, on Dec. 20 at Santander Arena, headlined by Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Colby Covington under submission rules; tickets go on sale Oct. 30.
- Key points (one per line)
- Hype Fighting's first Chile card is set for Dec. 20 at Santander Arena in Santiago
Main event: Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Colby Covington under submission rules
Co-main: Gaston Reyno vs. Andrés Muñoz; ten more bouts to be announced
Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 30 via PuntoTicket
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Fajador | https://fajador.com/es/se-anuncia-el-debut-de-hype-fc-en-chile-el-20-de-diciembre-en-el-santander-arena/
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