Veterans look to re-establish careers at Tachi Palace Fights in December

Posted on | November 2, 2010 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. – It’s now or never for four fighters that will compete on the Tachi Palace Fight’s “Deck the Halls” mixed martial arts card on Thursday, December 2 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

Four veterans of the sport for one reason or another will be looking at their respective bouts as career defining moments.

“This is a career changer right here,” said Lodi, Calif.’s Tim McKenzie, who takes on Tachi’s own Poppies Martinez (18-7) in a welterweight bout. “We’re both coming off losses and we both were right there on the verge of a title. We both want to make that last push towards a title run, too.”

Much like McKenzie (12-8) and Martinez, Huntington Beach, Calif. middleweight Jay Silva (5-4) has stumbled recently. The hard-hitting Silva has lost three straight bouts, two in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to C.B. Dollaway and Chris Leben and is coming off of a 6-second knockout loss to Bellator’s Hector Lombard.

Silva draws one of California’s most respected veterans, North Highland’s Jaime Jara (28-7).

Tachi Palace Fights will stream live and free on MMAJunkie.com at 5:30 p.m. with MMAJunkie’s John Morgan, Tachi Palace Fight’s flyweight champ Ulysses Gomez and Fresno’s B95 Andre Covington cageside with the call.

The stream will be blacked out to fans within 100 mile radius of the Palace unless there is a sellout.

Tickets can be purchased at www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30 for general admission seating.

“I feel like skill wise I am at the peak in my career,” said the 41-year-old Jara. “I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been right now and it’s time to make my run if I can keep my body in one piece.”

Jara has won seven consecutive fights since a controversial split-decision loss to Visalia, Calif. middleweight Doug Marshall (12-4) in May 2009.

“I don’t know a lot about (Silva). He’s lost his last three fights to Leben, CB and a knockout to Lombard,” Jara said. “I know he’s Brazilian and I assume he has good jiu-jitsu.”

Silva doesn’t know much about Jara either.

“I don’t know anything about him,” said Silva. “And I’m not trying to get to know him. My training has been very good. I’ve changed my whole camp and I’m going to come and make a statement in this fight.”

McKenzie and Martinez are both also looking to make statements following losses.

“This is going to be a good fight. McKenzie is a good all-around fighter and comes from all angles. I have to bring my ‘A’ game for this fight,” said Martinez, who made a long career at Tachi at lightweight before making the jump to 170 pounds.

“I’ve gone up in weight and fighting guys that are a lot bigger than me. I’ve been putting on muscle, though.”

McKenzie and Martinez share losses to former Tachi Palace Fights champ David Mitchell (11-1), who vacated the title to test his skills in the UFC.
“I honestly think that this is a great matchup between Poppies and I. We both like to stand and bang and we are going to try to knock each other out,” said McKenzie.

In the main event UFC veteran James Irvin of Sacramento, Calif. takes on battle-tested Jorge Oliveira of San Francisco, Calif. Irvin (15-7) snapped 3-fight skid recently with a knockout of Angel DeAnda. Meanwhile, Oliveira (4-2-1) will be fighting for the first time in over two years.

The co-main event features a Tachi Palace Fights championship showdown, as current featherweight champ Isaac DeJesus (9-2) of Stockton, Calif. defends his title against Coconut Creek, Fla.’s Micah Miller (15-4).

The 10-bout card also features Brazil flyweight Jussier da Silva (7-0) against San Diego, Calif.’s Danny Martinez (13-3). Da Silva is widely regarded as the world’s top 125 pounder and will put that to the test against Martinez, who makes his drop to 125 pounds after a successful run at bantamweight.

The Tachi Palace Fights vacant welterweight title will also be on the line, as Merced, Calif.’s Phil Collins (9-5) takes a huge step up in competition against Las Vegas, Nev.’s John Alessio (30-13).

In other bouts;

-Bakersfield, Calif. bantamweight Tommy Vargas (6-1) vs. Yuma, Ariz.’s Chance Farrar (8-3).

-Lemoore, Calif. featherweight Sergio Quinones (5-6) vs. Santa Rosa, Calif.’s Any Miranda (4-1).

-Fresno, Calif. heavyweight Mike Guidry (2-2) vs. San Luis Obispo, Calif.’s Jesse Wallace (4-1).

-San Francisco, Calif. light heavyweight Chris Bostick (6-2) vs. Las Vegas, Nik Fekete (3-0).