Collins; “This is playing out just like Rocky 3”

Posted on | November 10, 2010 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. – “And I’m Clubber Lang,” said the Merced, Calif. mixed martial artist Phil Collins.

“He (John Alessio) is the superstar. He’s doing all the interviews, the pretty boy and already calling himself the champ,” said Collins, who takes on the Las Vegas, Nev. veteran on Thursday, December 2 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino for the vacant Tachi Palace Fights Welterweight title.

“You know what? I just train. I’m grinding harder than he is. I work harder than him. I’m not all in the press like he is. And I’m going to put it on him like Clubber did Rocky.”

Collins (9-5) is a Central Valley favorite that’s called the Palace his home, fighting in the World Extreme Cagefighting and Palace Fighting Championship and most recently the Tachi Palace Fights where he has won two straight fights.

“This is a big fight for me. It’s the type of fight that I’ve always wanted and this is the fight that I think that can get me out of the area,” Collins said. “I’m tired of beating up all the local guys.”

This bout has turned into a war of words on the social media front with each fighter exchanging words on Twitter and Facebook with Collins most recently saying, “@johnalessio79…lol dismantle??? I don’t think so pretty boy…lmao”

It’s been an exchange between both fighters for several weeks.

Tachi Palace Fights will stream live and free on MMAJunkie.com at 5:30 p.m. (PST) with MMAJunkie’s John Morgan, Tachi Palace Fight’s flyweight champ Ulysses Gomez and Fresno’s B95 Andre Covington cage side 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’ve seen a little footage on him,” said Alessio (30-13). “He is a tough guy. I’m not going to underestimate him.”

But that doesn’t mean that Alessio believes Collins really beat him.

“I’m taking him serious, but I truly feel I’m better and more well-rounded as a fighter. He doesn’t have better stand up than me and we know that my ground is going to be too much for him,” Alessio added.

“I imagine we will see a lot of standup in this fight. It will be exciting he will throw some big bombs, but I’m a lot more accurate and if it goes to the ground I’ve been on a streak there.”

Alessio has put together an impressive 6-fight win streak with five of the victories coming by submission.

“I’ve fought better guys. I train with better guys. I know that he doesn’t hit harder than Doug Marshall and his jiu-jitsu isn’t as good as Leopoldo Serao’s,” Collins said. “He’s not going to KO me and he won’t sub me.”

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

In other bouts;

-Apache Junction, Ariz. welterweight Seth Baczynski (11-6) vs. Lodi, Calif.’s Tim McKenzie (12-8).

-North Highlands, Calif. middleweight Jaime Jara (28-7) vs. Huntington Beach, Calif.’s Jay Silva (5-4).

-Bakersfield, Calif. bantamweight Tommy Vargas (6-1) vs. Oakdale, Calif.’s Martin Sandoval (6-2).

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

-Fresno, Calif. heavyweight Mike Guidry (2-2) vs. Santa Ana, Calif.’s Jimmy Ambriz (14-14-1).

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