Crowd favorite DeJesus has hands full with Miller

Posted on | November 17, 2010 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. –Micah Miller and Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight champ Isaac DeJesus know little about each other, but are ready to tangle in their upcoming showdown on Thursday, December 2 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

The pair square off in the co-main event of Tachi Palace Fight’s 7 “Deck the Halls” which 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 cageside with the call.

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

“I don’t know much about (DeJesus). He’s a good kick boxer and very fast, but I haven’t seen a lot of his fights. I remember he kicks hard,” said Miller (15-4), who won a pivotal fight in September against Diego Saraiva to earn the No. 1 contender spot.

“He’s the champ and that’s what I want, so that’s all I really need to know.”

Miller’s victory over Saraiva (18-10-1) was one of his biggest in his career.

“The Diego fight was a big step up in competition for me. I probably threw like a million punches in that fight. I really enjoyed it and I think that was one of the biggest wins in my career,” Miller said.

Miller will now have to do it again and against one of Tachi Palace Fights’ most popular fighters.

DeJesus (9-2) from near by Stockton, Calif. last fought in July dropping a non-title fight to “Razor” Rob McCullough, who recently signed to compete in Bellator’s next lightweight tournament.

This will be DeJesus’ first title defense, since his technical knockout victory of Nam Phan, who is currently one of the more successful fighters on this season of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” show.

“Micah is a tall kid and has some good ground,” DeJesus said. “I really don’t know too much more about him. He seems pretty balanced, there’s nothing too special about him.”

DeJesus moved up 15 pounds to take on McCullough, who he grew up idolizing, in a July main event. The Stockton striker seemed to be getting the better of the stand up affair until McCullough caught a kick, knocked DeJesus to the canvas and finished the fight with ground and pound.

“Since my last fight, I’ve been pinpointing my flaws in my standup and starting to strengthen my jiu-jitsu. I’ve been working at a camp where I’m now more of the focus,” said DeJesus.

DeJesus will carry one distinct advantage into the cage – the crowd.

“I feed off of my fans, all of them, even the people I don’t know. I draw my strength from the crowd and it’s a big part of helping me get up for a fight,” DeJesus said. “They help with my adrenaline in the cage and give me no fear when I fight. I fight for them; I fight for my crowd and my fans.”

DeJesus has become the biggest of the local, fan-favorites. And chants of his name during fights have become the norm.

“It’s not going to be a problem for me. All my trips to Japan to fight have helped me prepare for this type of stuff… fighting the hometown hero,” said Miller. “This isn’t nearly as bad as fighting in Japan where they all don’t like you, you’re really an outside and don’t even speak their language. The crowd won’t play a factor in the fight.”

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.

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 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.

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;

-Apache Junction, Ariz. welterweight Seth Baczynksi (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. San Ynez, Calif.’s Jesse Wallace (4-1).

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