Combate Americas, a mixed martial arts promotion geared toward Hispanic fighters and fans, has brought in some well-known muscle to become the new face of the company.Professional wrestler and former MMA fighter?Alberto El Presidente Rodriguez, best known in the United States as former four-time WWE world champion Alberto Del Rio, was named president of the company on Tuesday, officials told ESPN.com.Combate Americas, which was created in 2012 by UFC co-founder Campbell McLaren, signed a multiyear deal in April to air exclusively in English on UFC Fight Pass. Rodriguez will make his public debut as president on Friday during the promotions first live event in New York at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona.The moment Campbell McLaren sent me the prospect I said yes immediately, Rodriguez told ESPN.com. As you know, I like to be in front of the camera with a microphone in my hand to tell people all about how proud I am to be Latino and to be a Mexican. I think all of the fighters who are competing for Combate Americas feel the same way.Rodriguez, 39, who mutually agreed upon his release from WWE in September, will be actively involved in all aspects of athlete relations and development for Combate Americas. He also plans to continue pro wrestling on a part-time basis until 2018, when his focus will turn exclusively to MMA.Im going to be recruiting fighters and Im going to be there to help them get to the place that they want to get, Rodriguez said. We have a lot of talent in the company. Most of that talent is Hispanic. That makes me really happy to be able to help them.Rodriguez comes from a famous family of pro wrestlers in Mexico, including his father, Dos Caras, and his uncles, Sicodelico and WWE Hall of Famer Mil Mascaras. He also has experience inside the cage as an MMA fighter, sporting a record of 9-5 between 2001 and 2010 under the name Dos Caras Jr. (often wearing a Luchador mask). His most famous bout came in 2003 against Pride and UFC veteran Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic, where he suffered a head-kick knockout defeat.Alberto brings a tremendous amount of knowledge of what it means to be in competition, coupled with an ability to communicate his passion for the sport to his new role, McLaren said. From working with Alberto in the past, we have gotten to know him very well and are thrilled to have him on our team in an executive capacity.Rodriguez said he was first approached by McLaren more than two years ago to join Combate Americas as a fighter but respectfully declined, saying, Amigo, thank you so much for the offer but I think Im too old for that. He admits he was surprised when approached recently about an executive role.Considering his career in sports entertainment, Rodriguez is looking to pass on what he has learned to the mostly Hispanic fighters who make up the Combate Americas roster.I am going to try and bring all of that experience to not just make great fighters, but great entertainers, Rodriguez said. We know Ronda [Rousey] and [Conor] McGregor are great fighters but they are also showmen. McGregor is an amazing fighter and his Octagon skills are not in debate. But the reason why he has accomplished all of those things is because he is a showman. And people want to see him winning or losing -- but they want to see him.At the end of the day this is fighting, so they are going to be fighting. But we also want them to entertain the crowd.Rodriguez says he is excited about leveraging his connections in Mexico -- hinting that Combate Americas is on the verge of closing a big deal with a new partner -- and hopes to use his celebrity to help the brand grow to a bigger platform worldwide.I know its going to be not impossible but really difficult to be bigger than the UFC, just because of all the structure in that company, Rodriguez said. But Im pretty sure were going to be the No. 2 MMA company around the world in less than two years. We have an amazing group of people behind the project. Custom New England Patriots Jerseys .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Wholesale Patriots Jerseys . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Fake Patriots Jerseys . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. New England Patriots Shirts . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. HOUSTON -- Joe Musgrove lifted the Houston Astros in more ways than one Sunday.With his team in desperate need of a win to remain in playoff contention, Musgrove pitched seven strong innings to help lift Houston over the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 to snap a three-game slide.He had a tremendous game today at a time (when) we needed it, manager A.J. Hinch said. (The) compete button is never off for Musgrove, and I appreciate the way he goes about it.The Astros backed Musgrove with home runs from Evan Gattis, Tony Kemp and Tyler White.Houston remained three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot.Playoffs aspirations aside, Musgrove had another pressing reason to make his start count.Today was a tough day, said Musgrove, referring to the news of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandezs tragic death from a boating accident early Sunday at age 24. I think everyone was a bit down with the bad news we had this morning.There are a few guys in here that are handling it a little worse than the rest of us from having personal relationships with Jose. The energy was a little bit down, so I was hoping to go out there and pitch a strong seven, he said.That he did.Musgrove (4-4) allowed one run on seven hits while striking out four.Closer Ken Giles rebounded from a blown save in Fridays 10-6 loss to Los Angeles. He walked one and struck out two in the ninth for his 14th save.I just wanted to go out there and put up a zero, Giles said. I needed to do that for the team and show them that I can bounce back.Carlos Correa singled home Jose Altuve in the Houston first.An inning later, Gattis homered offf Daniel Wright (0-5), connecting for the 31st time this season.ddddddddddddKemp and White later added solo shots.It was a good day for our youth, Hinch said. These guys are getting their first taste of important baseball in September and, hopefully, October.Wright lasted six innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits.I left the changeup up to Kemp that he hit out, and then the fastball up to Gattis to lead off both those innings, Wright said. I just have to get better at going out there from the first pitch of each inning and be ready to go.The Angels kept the game close by turning four double plays.Defensively we played a very good game. That was good to see, manager Mike Scioscia said. Offensively, we just couldnt get any momentum.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: Before the game, Hinch said he was worried about Giles flexibility and ability to throw, a day after he injured his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive during batting practice. X-rays were negative.I think hes got a chance to be a little bit stiff, Hinch said postgame. Given that its a contusion, hell be all right.UP NEXTAngels: Jered Weaver (12-12, 5.20 ERA) will attempt to close out September on a winning note when Los Angeles hosts Oakland and LHP Sean Manaea (6-9, 4.03) on Monday. Weaver is 2-1 in four starts this month.Astros: Collin McHugh (12-10, 4.61) faces fellow RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.04) to open a three-game series against Seattle. McHugh is 4-0 against the Mariners this season. ' ' '