Juan Martos is set to host the second edition of Batalla de Gladiadores II on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Polideportivo de Castellbell i el Vilar in Barcelona, featuring ten championship belts on the line across twenty combat bouts.
The event, organized by the veteran martial artist known as “La Avispa,” will showcase competitions in K1, muay thai, and boxeo sucio disciplines, drawing athletes from Madrid and Barcelona to highlight the ongoing rivalry between Spain’s two major cities.
Martos, a native of Castellbell i el Vilar who has resided in Madrid for many years, brings nearly 25 years of professional experience to the promotion, having captured two World Kickboxing and Karate Association (WKA) world titles and six Spanish national championships in kickboxing, K1, and muay thai.
The main event will see Vicente García of Striking Center Barcelona face Omar “El Visir” Bourba from Vallekas Boxing for the WKA world K1 championship in the super lightweight division, while the co-main event pits Asier Martínez of Madrid’s Academia Mario Padilla against Alex López of Barcelona’s Imperia team for the European K1 title at 63 kilograms.
Martos has emphasized the competitive spirit of the event, drawing a parallel to football’s El Clásico but stressing that in combat sports, athletes fight rather than merely play, stating, “In a K1 fight, there is no playing.”
The promoter has acknowledged the support of the WKA and its Spanish president, Antonio Ricobaldi, for sanctioning the event, noting the organization’s historic status as the world’s oldest combat sports federation, founded in 1976.
Recent WKA initiatives include hosting preliminary tryouts for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Spain, with over 60 participants attending sessions at Madrid’s The Black Panther Gym.
Local officials from Castellbell i el Vilar, including Mayor Adrià Valls and Sports Councillor Carla Lluís Serra, have received recognition from Martos for their instrumental role in supporting the event’s development and grassroots sports promotion in the region.
The Batalla de Gladiadores II represents a continued growth in combat sports popularity within Spain, which Martos describes as now constituting the nation’s second most popular sport category.
The next scheduled action for interested parties is the event itself on June 13, 2026, at the Polideportivo de Castellbell i el Vilar, with further details expected to be released through official channels as the date approaches.
Share your thoughts on this upcoming combat sports showcase and join the conversation about the evolving landscape of martial arts in Spain.
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