Morelos martial artists
19 MMA and Kickboxing athletes from Morelos have fought their way into the quarterfinals at the 2026 National Popular Games in Boca del Río, Veracruz. Competing in the tournament’s tough combat division, the state delegation is making a serious push for the national medal stand. Their trip comes with the backing of Governor Margarita González Saravia and the Morelos Institute of Sports and Physical Culture (Indem), which has thrown its weight behind youth sports across the state.
Who Made the Cut in Veracruz
Indem Director Juan Felipe Domínguez Robles confirmed the roster of athletes moving on to the next round. Perla Briyid Gaspar Ángeles, Yatziri Betsabé Rendón López, and Romina Michelle Ferrer Calderón all won their opening bouts to advance. Joining them in the quarterfinals are Giovanni Reyes Martínez, Kimberly García Figueroa, and Mayte Constanza Beltrán Ocano. It was also a big day for the Mariano Barrera family—both Noé Francisco and Josias Gabriel earned spots in the next bracket alongside teammate Luis Andrey Medina Ortiz.
Depth Across the Roster
The winning streak didn’t stop there. Henoch Yair Hernández Roque, Margarita Yunuen Rodríguez Luna, and Miguel Jordán Muñoz each pulled off decisive victories on the mat. Jorge Luis Jaime Vital, Tadeo Viais Gómez, and Leandro Vallejo García also survived their early matchups to stay in contention. Rounding out the group of nineteen qualifiers are Ricardo Neftalí García Vázquez, Sergio Daniel Martínez Cañas, and Emanuel Bobadilla de la Cruz.
Eyes on the Medal Stand
Sending nearly twenty fighters into the knockout stages gives Morelos real momentum heading into the decisive rounds of the tournament. Now comes the hard part: turning weeks of grueling preparation and discipline into semifinal berths and,ultimately, hardware for their home state. For Indem and the state government, the strong showing in Veracruz is already proof that investing in local kids pays off when they step onto the national stage.
