Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’s historic bantamweight title challenge against Antonio Vargas on June 13, 2026 was not just a one-fight card — it was a full night of action packed with world title bouts, undefeated prospects, and a fierce Arizona grudge match. Here is everything you need to know about the complete Bam Rodriguez undercard at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Event Overview: Bam vs. Vargas Fight Night
The Bam vs. Vargas event, promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Boxlab Promotions, took place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The card streamed live on DAZN worldwide, with the main card kicking off at 8 p.m. ET and main event ring walks expected around 11 p.m. ET.
The headline attraction saw two-division unified champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas, challenge WBA bantamweight champion Antonio Vargas (19-1-1, 11 KOs) of Houston, Texas in a 12-round world title bout at 118 pounds. Rodriguez entered the contest ranked as ESPN’s No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, chasing his third divisional world title at just 26 years old.
Full Bam Rodriguez Undercard Fight Card
Co-Main Event: Arturo Cardenas vs. Jordan Martinez — WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight Title Rematch
Arguably the most anticipated undercard fight of the evening, this 10-round super bantamweight rematch delivered on its hype. Mexico’s Arturo “Popoca” Cardenas (17-0-2, 9 KOs) put his WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight title on the line against local Arizona fan favorite Jordan Martinez (16-0-1, 15 KOs) of Phoenix. Their first meeting four months earlier at the very same venue ended in a dramatic split draw, which earned Martinez a Matchroom Boxing promotional deal and made this rematch an instant needle-mover. Both men came in at the super bantamweight limit of 122 pounds at the official weigh-in on Friday, June 12.
IBF Lightweight Title: Elif Nur Turhan vs. Gabriela Tellez
One of the most intriguing world title bouts on the undercard featured IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan (13-0, 8 KOs) of Turkey, making the second defense of her belt against 19-year-old American challenger Gabriela Tellez (7-0, 3 KOs) of Vero Beach, Florida — a stablemate of Bam Rodriguez himself.
Nur Turhan, ranked No. 9 pound-for-pound in women’s boxing, rose to global recognition after her stunning knockout upset over Beatriz Ferreira in 2025, earning the NY Fights Fighter of the Year award. Tellez weighed in at 132.8 lbs while Nur Turhan came in at 134.8 lbs. Turhan ultimately retained her IBF lightweight title by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 96-94 in her favor.
Main Card Opener: Adrian Rodriguez vs. Elias Montoya Terraza — Lightweight
The main card kicked off with an all-Arizona showdown in a 10-round lightweight bout between Adrian Rodriguez (10-0, 6 KOs) of Glendale and Elias Montoya Terraza (13-0, 8 KOs) of Phoenix. With both fighters bringing undefeated records into the ring, someone’s “0” had to go. Terraza delivered the answer emphatically, stopping Adrian Rodriguez by KO in the second round to remain unbeaten and announce himself as a serious contender in the lightweight division.
Preliminary: Ronny Alvarez vs. Filip Stankovic — Super Middleweight (8 Rounds)
Cuban sensation Ronny Alvarez (6-0, 5 KOs), age 21, was one of the most-watched prospects on the card. Coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Braulio Matias Ferreira in Las Vegas in January 2026, Alvarez squared off against Serbia’s Filip Stankovic (9-3, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight contest. Alvarez came in at 167.6 lbs and Stankovic at 168.8 lbs. The young Cuban delivered again, stopping Stankovic by TKO to improve his professional record and further cement his status as one of the sport’s most exciting rising talents.
Preliminary: Trini Ochoa vs. Cristian Perez Hernandez — Super Lightweight
Veteran super lightweight Trini Ochoa (21-1, 9 KOs) took on Cristian Perez Hernandez (12-4-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round contest. Ochoa weighed 142.6 lbs while Perez came in at 143.5 lbs. The bout was short and decisive — Ochoa knocked out Perez in the second round to claim the win.
Preliminary: Hector Beltran Jr. vs. Shaquile Felicia — Super Welterweight
A six-round super welterweight bout between Hector Beltran Jr. (154.7 lbs) and Shaquile Felicia (153.7 lbs) added more action to the preliminary card. Beltran secured the victory, stopping Felicia by TKO in the second round at the 2:53 mark.
Preliminary: Xechal Xavier Esquivel vs. Rayshawn Taylor — Featherweight
Xechal Xavier Esquivel (126.5 lbs) faced off against Rayshawn Taylor (126.7 lbs) in featherweight action. Esquivel wasted no time, finishing Taylor by KO to record another stoppage victory and keep his record clean on the night.
Complete Bam Rodriguez Undercard Results at a Glance
| Fight | Result |
|---|---|
| Arturo Cardenas vs. Jordan Martinez | Result TBD |
| Elif Nur Turhan vs. Gabriela Tellez | Turhan W UD (96-94 x3) |
| Adrian Rodriguez vs. Elias Montoya Terraza | Terraza W KO (R2) |
| Ronny Alvarez vs. Filip Stankovic | Alvarez W TKO |
| Trini Ochoa vs. Cristian Perez Hernandez | Ochoa W KO (R2) |
| Hector Beltran Jr. vs. Shaquile Felicia | Beltran W TKO (R2, 2:53) |
| Xechal Xavier Esquivel vs. Rayshawn Taylor | Esquivel W KO |
About the Main Event: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs. Antonio Vargas
While the undercard delivered fireworks, the main event was the evening’s centerpiece. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez entered the bout as a heavy -5000 betting favorite, with Vargas a +1200 underdog. Rodriguez brought a record of 23-0 with 16 knockouts, having previously unified titles at flyweight and super flyweight, where he stopped the likes of Juan Francisco Estrada, Fernando Daniel Martinez, Phumelele Cafu, and Sunny Edwards.
Vargas, a 2016 U.S. Olympian and Pan American Games gold medalist, had assembled an 11-fight unbeaten streak since a first-round knockout loss to Jose Maria Cardenas in 2019. He carried 11 knockouts in his 19 wins and entered the fight as the legitimately re-established WBA bantamweight champion after the WBA designated Japan’s Seiya Tsutsumi as “champion in recess” due to a medical condition.
Rodriguez signed a multi-fight extension with Matchroom Boxing ahead of this contest, underscoring his long-term vision to collect all the belts at bantamweight before potentially pursuing a mega-fight with Naoya Inoue.
Where and How to Watch
The entire Bam vs. Vargas card — undercard and main event — streamed live on DAZN worldwide. A DAZN monthly subscription is available at $20.99 on a 12-month contract or $30.99 month-to-month, with an annual option priced at $224.99.
Venue and Attendance
The event was held at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with more than 10,000 fans expected in attendance. Matchroom Boxing has staged multiple events at the venue, which has served as a stronghold for Rodriguez throughout his career — he captured his first world title at the nearby Footprint Center in Phoenix back in February 2022.
What’s Next for Bam Rodriguez?
Depending on the outcome of the Vargas fight, Rodriguez has publicly targeted a bout against Naoya Inoue — widely considered one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters. Rodriguez has also floated a potential bantamweight unification fight against Takuma Inoue, Naoya’s brother, as a possible stepping stone toward the ultimate mega-fight.
FAQ: Bam Rodriguez Undercard
Q: How many fights were on the Bam Rodriguez undercard? A: The Bam vs. Vargas card featured a total of 8 bouts, including the main event, two world title fights, a co-main event title rematch, and several undefeated prospect matchups.
Q: What channel was the Bam Rodriguez undercard on? A: The entire fight card, including all undercard bouts, streamed live on DAZN worldwide.
Q: Did Elif Nur Turhan win her fight on the undercard? A: Yes. IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan defeated Gabriela Tellez by unanimous decision (96-94 on all three scorecards) to retain her title.
Q: Who was on the Bam Rodriguez undercard as a prospect to watch? A: Cuban super middleweight Ronny Alvarez (6-0, 5 KOs) was widely considered the top prospect on the card. The 21-year-old stopped Filip Stankovic by TKO to remain unbeaten.
Q: Was the Arturo Cardenas vs. Jordan Martinez rematch on the Bam Rodriguez undercard? A: Yes. Their WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight title rematch served as the co-main event of the Bam vs. Vargas card. Their first fight ended in a split draw four months earlier at the same venue.
Q: What was Bam Rodriguez’s record going into the Vargas fight? A: Rodriguez entered the bout at 23-0 with 16 knockouts, ranked No. 3 pound-for-pound by ESPN.
Q: What was the venue for the Bam Rodriguez undercard? A: Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Did the undercard live up to the hype? Drop your take in the comments below and stay tuned for full results and post-fight reactions from the Bam Rodriguez vs. Vargas fight night!