Migration
MMA fighters to begin European base tour
Stars and Stripes
August 7, 2017
Four MMA fighters are scheduled to meet servicemembers at bases in Europe, beginning Aug. 10, 2017. (Photo courtesy Armed Forces Ente)
Four mixed martial arts fighters are coming to meet servicemembers at bases in Spain, Italy and Romania.
Dennis Bermudez, Carla Esparza, Benson Henderson and Gray Maynard will start their Armed Forces Entertainment tour Thursday at Moron Air Base in Spain.
Other stops include Naval Station Rota in Spain on Friday, Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy on Sunday, Camp MK in Romania on Aug. 15 and Aviano Air Base in Italy on Aug. 17.
The fighters are scheduled to demonstrate their skills and meet with community members at gyms, exchanges and dining facilities.
Bermudez, 30, from Saugerties, N.Y., is the No. 11 featherweight in the UFC rankings with a 17-7 record. Esparza, 29, from Los Angeles, is the No. 7 strawweight contender in UFC with a 13-4 mark.
Henderson, 33, from Colorado Springs, Colo., competes for Bellator MMA after formerly fighting at lightweight in UFC competition. Maynard, 38, from Phoenix, competes at lightweight and sports a 14-7-1 UFC record.