Horacio “El Ninja” Enrique: from those fights with Acero Cali to the promotion of MMA on open TV

Horace “The Ninja“Enrico wrote his own pages in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Argentina. He made history with his struggles against Jorge “Steel“Cali at the beginning of the last decade, with which he starred in a trilogy with a huge audience and peaks of nearly 20 rating points. Now he is making history again but on the other side of the counter: he is the promoter of the Argentine MMA Circuit (CAM)the first event of this sport broadcast live on television.

CAM will have its 11th event on Saturday 25th, where the Super 8 Light Heavyweight (93 kilos) final will take place between Luca Alsina Y Juan Carlos Lepezthat brings a belt into play.

One of the novelties of this promoter is that he has an agreement with Lux Fight League, the Mexican company that is a great showcase for the UFC. All CAM champions have the opportunity to go fight in that company.

The evening will be at the UBA sports field in Ciudad Universitaria, broadcast by “Elimination 9with stories of Augusto Niez and comments by Javier Ganín e Mariano Olivero.

In dialogue with Clarione, the Ninja assured that in addition to organizing an event, the CAM is much more. “I want to emphasize that we are doing social worknot only in the amateur part, but professional, to educate them from the boys to the fighters “, he explained.

In addition, he said he tries to take care of the fighter’s right “to be well looked after, and let them know that an event without them is nothing“.” We are working on this. If the rest comes, welcome. But than Argentina begins to climb the top positions of the world in MMA, this is my goal. I want the sport to continue well, but we run to put the events together, we close with little time available, we don’t have a permanent place and we are struggling to keep the sport going, “he said of the difficulties in putting together one evening.

The idea of ​​the CAM was born from all the experience and contacts that the Ninja has made during his career years. “He started with a group of friendly people, who know what I’m doing for this sport. The first thing I was able to do was put together the first one. Argentine Association of Mixed Martial Arts and Contact Sports, where I am approved by CeNARD. There I take care of everything amateur. I am lucky to have found this sport“, he highlighted.

He also insisted on social support work for the fighters. “We try to make the kids have another vision, let him know you can get off the roadplaying sports, eating a good diet, having good nutrition, that there are things that can make you happy and apart from that, give you a future for another job opportunity, “he summed up.

“In this country we are broadcasting, now with the television we have live on Channel 9, we are trying to reach more homes, so that they know that MMA is a sport like any other and that it can become an Olympic sport. There are very good athletes and exponents here, but if we don’t have hours of flight, when you go to compete outdoors, unfortunately they overtake you. It’s one thing to drive every day and it’s another to go out on Saturdays and Sunday nothing else, “he said of competing with other countries.

He stressed that in the CAM “everything is done in the country, everything in Argentine territory”. “The last event was the first in which people from Brazil and Uruguay came, but then it was all Argentine. And not only with the capital, but with people from the provinces, who left many isolated and not they have taken into consideration. We try to help everyone, “said Enrique.

The matchmakers of the event are Gaston Granados Y Massimiliano Marón (director of ISKA -International Sport Kickboxing Association- of Argentina), whose work he highlighted. “The struggles they are putting together are very uniform, there is no rival more outdated than another … I have nothing but words of gratitude to the leadership they are having for making it transparent,” he defined.

– Does an event like CAM leave money?

– Look, I’m telling you from the bottom of my heart … For me, if you’re going to do this as a business … I think it has to happen in the long run, but in the meantime it’s going to take a couple of years. Why you have to spread the sport. This saved my life, made me happy again. I work for something else and many of the guys who are with me do too. What I want is that the fighters who leave here are well prepared and when they go to another country they will not be cannon fodder for anyone. I want the Argentine fighter to go and fight as an equal, to be respected. I have this intention and we have the resistance not to give up, because we do it with love. It’s more, we put it out of your pocket. I am in a process of my life where I believe that the more I give, the more I will receive. And I’m not saying this for money, but to get work, help, healthy, beautiful things, things that give you energy to start the day.

– Everyone remembers you from the appearance against Acero … But how did you get into MMA?

– I started as a child and used them for my work (he is a caretaker). Besides, he was a daily martial law teacher which was like training for the job he did. What happens is what I had was not to enter a tournament. So, I had to adapt to the different ways of fighting that the rules required.

– When did you start watching MMA who did you like?

– I had friends who were already training … The ones I liked were Anderson Silva, Victor Belfortall that litter. BJ Penn, etc. All this attracted me.

– How do you see other MMA events in Argentina?

– I am witty in what I do, I will not have an idea anywhere, I do not waste time talking to other fighters or spoiling the event for anyone. On the contrary. The doors of the CAM are open to all. My return to the people who trusted and put me in this is to show them respect and transparency. Fighters can participate in any event to fight. Unless they’re called by the CAM, which has to be eight weeks early, because you never know what’s going to happen. If they get hurt, you are left with a blank billboard and you are bad in sports. So I also ask you to be in weight, program, will, sacrifice and respect. After that I don’t pay attention to anyone and I don’t have time to take care of anyone because I already have enough of mine.

-Do you see a possible CAM fighter with a future in the UFC?

-The truth is that I don’t want to name names, because I don’t want to make a bad impression on anyone. If not, they will think that I have the privilege with someone and I do not have it with anyone. Everyone who fights in the CAM is equally loved and I will help everyone equally in any way I can.

From rivalry to eternal gratitude to Acero Cali

The first confrontation between Steel and the Ninja dates back to 2010, in the legendary Luna Park. The fight ended in a draw by the jury’s decision. That ruling led to a controversy where bottles started flying from side to side and the groundwork for rematch was laid.

It took place in 2012 at the Islas Malvinas sports center in Mar del Plata, where Acero prevailed after the abandonment of his opponent in the third round. The rematch was achieved by El Ninja in 2013, when he closed the trilogy with a knockout in the second round, in a packed Luna Park.