Las Cruces Fight Night – ECS 3 Results and Highlights from Empire Promotions

Empire Promotions returned to the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, with ECS 3: Defend Your Glory . The night was packed with electrifying finishes, technical submissions, and a roaring crowd that brought the arena to life. From early amateur bouts to the professional title main event, ECS 3 showcased the grit, skill, and determination of fighters hungry to make their mark in mixed martial arts. MMAStalker.com was on site capturing the action, and we've got the full results, fight photos, and highlight reels for fans who couldn't be there in person. Let's dive into the breakdown of each matchup. View Free Gallery Event Statistics StatCount Total Fights 15 Submissions 7 TKO Finishes 6 Title Fights 3 Main Event – Xavier Martin Secures Pro Title in Statement Win The professional main event of the evening featured a lightweight title clash that had the entire Pan American Center buzzing. Xavier "Ironside" Martin (@xmannn63) battled Ricky Maynez for the Pro Lightweight Title, and the bout ended in dramatic fashion. At 2:49 of round one, Martin locked in a rear naked choke, forcing Maynez to tap. With the victory, Martin cemented his status as Empire Promotions' lightweight champion and delivered a performance that fans won't soon forget. His mix of composure, striking setups, and grappling transitions showed that he's ready for bigger stages in the sport. Amateur Title Fights – Rising Stars Claim Gold Empire Promotions crowned two new amateur champions in hard-fought title bouts. Julius Vega (@vegajulius_) outclassed Cesar Sandoval in a five-round bantamweight championship bout. With a unanimous decision score of 45-30, Vega proved why he's one of the top rising prospects in the region. At flyweight, Chris Tavares (@chriiss.10) claimed gold with a blistering TKO victory over Brendan Willard just 1:33 into round one. His striking precision left no doubt that he's a fighter to keep an eye on as he climbs the ranks. Undercard Highlights Submissions Showcase – Technical Mastery on Display Grapplers dominated the mid-card, putting their submission skills front and center. Daniel Hernandez tapped out Jesus Urbina with a keylock at just 1:44 of round two, showing excellent positional control. Kurt Felix followed with another slick submission, finishing Nathan Vasquez with a head-and-arm triangle choke at 1:09. Isaiah Solaita (@slimzaydy_mma) continued the submission streak by locking in a rear naked choke against Mario Marquez at 2:53. Alex Ortiz wasted no time in his bout, submitting Jose Berkowitz with a rear naked choke at 1:55 of the opening round. Submission ace Ruben Luna added a slick heel hook finish to the night's highlight reel, forcing Jacob Saiz to tap at 1:55 of round one. Early Card Fireworks – Fast Finishes and First-Round Statements The amateur bouts set the tone for the night with a series of quick finishes. Tyler Werch wasted no time in the cage, submitting Dresden Little with an arm triangle choke just 1:29 into round one. Armando Gutierrez displayed brutal ground-and-pound against Cade Smith, earning a second-round TKO at 2:18. Christopher Deer (@chriiss.10) stopped Ismael Acosta with relentless ground-and-pound at 2:22 of round one. Decisions, Dominance, and Late Finishes Isaiah Delgado (@isaiah_deli) earned a unanimous decision over Dante Moralez in a back-and-forth featherweight contest, with all three judges scoring it 29-28. Bantamweight fireworks erupted as Irvin Ortiz (@chinoortiz0522) stopped Armando Valdez with a TKO at 1:19 of round three. In another bantamweight clash, Gabriel Peinada (@gabriel.peinado.125) stopped Alfredo Alvara by TKO at 1:49 of round one. Full Fight Results Weight ClassWinnerOpponentMethodRoundTime Pro LightweightXavier MartinRicky MaynezSubmission (RNC)12:49Am. BantamweightJulius VegaCesar SandovalUnanimous Decision53:00Am. FlyweightChris TavaresBrendan WillardTKO11:33 FeatherweightIsaiah DelgadoDante MoralezUnanimous Decision33:00BantamweightIrvin OrtizArmando ValdezTKO31:19BantamweightGabriel PeinadaAlfredo AlvaraTKO11:49WelterweightTyler WerchDresden LittleSubmission (Arm Triangle)11:29LightweightChristopher DeerIsmael AcostaTKO (GNP)12:22Catchweight (150)Aaron HernandezJordan TorresMajority Decision33:00MiddleweightDaniel HernandezJesus UrbinaSubmission (Keylock)21:44WelterweightKurt FelixNathan VasquezSubmission (Head/Arm Triangle)11:09LightweightIsaiah SolaitaMario MarquezSubmission (RNC)12:53BantamweightAlex OrtizJose BerkowitzSubmission (RNC)11:55FeatherweightRuben LunaJacob SaizSubmission (Heel Hook)11:55HeavyweightArmando GutierrezCade SmithTKO (GNP)22:18 Final Thoughts – A Night of Finishes, Future Stars, and Championship Moments Empire Promotions' ECS 3: Defend Your Glory lived up to its name with a card full of finishes, new champions, and fighters making bold statements about their futures. Las Cruces fight fans witnessed everything from lightning-fast submissions to gritty decisions and highlight-reel knockouts. This event further solidifies Empire Promotions as a rising force in the regional MMA scene. What's Next This is just the beginning – more photos and video highlights are coming soon. Stay tuned and make sure you're following MMA Stalker on all socials for the latest fight coverage. Gallery