Brett Johns and Alexis Vera crown the premiere of WOW at the Marbella Starlite

Spain's number one mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, WOW, arrived in Marbella with a goal in mind. They wanted to eradicate the stigma attached to contact sports. To achieve this, they ventured into one of the most exclusive festivals of the summer, Marbella Starlite. And the result was a resounding success . A great evening, a different atmosphere from other MMA events, and fights that exceeded expectations. Well-known faces like journalist Edu Aguirre and influencer Ana Antic didn't want to miss the evening.

Of course, there were also some very important figures in the sport, such as WOW fighters Yaman "El Diamante" and Miguel Ángel "Colombo," and Costello van Steenis, who recently won the PFL world championship , and his brother Ginno. Everyone wanted to be in the loop, and the fights, the main attraction, did not disappoint. With Zebenzui Ruíz's last-minute injury , there was a change. The co-main event between Brett Johns and Levan Kirtadze became the main event.

Here, the Welshman demonstrated his experience in major leagues like the UFC , submitting Kirtadze in the first round with a spectacular leg lock, which earned him the submission bonus of the night. But the hero of the evening was none other than Alexis Vera. The Peruvian based in Spain, a member of the Black Panther gym , jumped in to replace Zebenzui Ruíz after just three days, a two-year inactivity and various personal issues. As if that weren't enough, the fight didn't take place in his usual weight class. He had everything against him , and yet he still came out on top.

He dominated the fight, nearly finishing Scott Pedersen on several occasions, and despite lacking specific training, he knew how to perform in the best possible way . The result was clear: a unanimous decision for the hero of the night. Other notable performances included Akhmed Amaev, with his first-round submission, and Lara Botto. Local fighter Vincenzo Bussolotti also put on a great show with a fight that ignited the arena. Finally, Dimitri Barkaia continued his steady stride in the amateur arena, and, at just 18 years old, great things are already expected of him. All in all, WOW's debut at the Marbella Starlite was outstanding .