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.
Event Statistics
| Stat | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 Class | Winner | Loser | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Lightweight | Xavier Martin | Ricky Maynez | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 2:49 |
| Am. Bantamweight | Julius Vega | Cesar Sandoval | Unanimous Decision | 5 | 3:00 |
| Am. Flyweight | Chris Tavares | Brendan Willard | TKO | 1 | 1:33 |
| Featherweight | Isaiah Delgado | Dante Moralez | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 3:00 |
| Bantamweight | Irvin Ortiz | Armando Valdez | TKO | 3 | 1:19 |
| Bantamweight | Gabriel Peinada | Alfredo Alvara | TKO | 1 | 1:49 |
| Welterweight | Tyler Werch | Dresden Little | Submission (Arm Triangle) | 1 | 1:29 |
| Lightweight | Christopher Deer | Ismael Acosta | TKO (GNP) | 1 | 2:22 |
| Catchweight (150) | Aaron Hernandez | Jordan Torres | Majority Decision | 3 | 3:00 |
| Middleweight | Daniel Hernandez | Jesus Urbina | Submission (Keylock) | 2 | 1:44 |
| Welterweight | Kurt Felix | Nathan Vasquez | Submission (Head/Arm Triangle) | 1 | 1:09 |
| Lightweight | Isaiah Solaita | Mario Marquez | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 2:53 |
| Bantamweight | Alex Ortiz | Jose Berkowitz | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 1:55 |
| Featherweight | Ruben Luna | Jacob Saiz | Submission (Heel Hook) | 1 | 1:55 |
| Heavyweight | Armando Gutierrez | Cade Smith | TKO (GNP) | 2 | 2:18 |
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.