Tachi teams with Sherdog for May 6th stream

Posted on | March 23, 2011 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. – Tachi Palace Fights announced its 13-bout May 6^th “The Contenders” mixed martial arts card today as well as its plans to stream the event on Sherdog.com.

“We say it all the time, but this will be one of the best fight cards that we’ve ever put together,” Tachi Palace Fights matchmaker Richard Goodman said. “From top to bottom we will have action-packed, exciting, hard-hitting bouts.”

Tachi Palace Fights once again will put the flyweights on center stage, as the main event features a flyweight bout between San Clemente, Calif.’s Ian McCall (9-2) and Franklin, Tenn.’s Dustin Ortiz (7-0). McCall is coming off a decision victory over the previously ranked No. 1 flyweight in the world, Brazil’s Jussier da Silva (9-1) which moved him into the Top 10 rankings at No. 3.

Meanwhile, Ortiz is a Strikeforce veteran and a proven finisher, winning all of his bouts by stoppage.

“The flyweights are our marquee division. We are going to continue to have the very best possible flyweights compete on all of our shows,” Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Coordinator Jeremy Luchau said. “We wanted initially to have McCall take on our current champ Darrell Montague, but Montague sustained some injuries in his last bout and was unable to compete in May.”

Luchau noted that Montague (9-1) would defend his title at Tachi Palace Fights 10 on Friday, August 5^th.

“McCall certainly earned a shot at the title with his victory over the previously ranked No. 1 fighter in the world. That’s the match we wanted for May, but we couldn’t make it happen,” Luchau said. “It shows the type of fighter that McCall is to stay on the card and fight, rather than hold out to fight Montague and we are very honored to have Ortiz fighting in our promotion.”

Tachi Palace Fights had previously streamed on both GoFightLive.tv and MMAJunkie.com, but made the move to Sherdog.com after the February 18^th show.

“It really just came down to numbers. We really value our relationship with MMAJunkie.com and their staff. John Morgan, Dann Stupp, Gorgeous George, Goze and Tom have been a pleasure to work with and have been an iatrical part of our growth over the last year,” Luchau said.

“But we are very happy to be back with Sherdog as well. They have been part of mixed martial arts at the Palace since the beginning and I’m happy to be working with Jeff Sherwood and Greg Savage again.”

The stream will be live and free on Sherdog.com at 5:30 p.m. (PST) and 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 expect we should have another sell out for our first outdoor show of the year,” Goodman said. “A majority of the fights on this card have some sort of title implications. I’d expect a few of the winners on May 6^th to be fighting for a title in the future.”

San Diego, Calif. lightweight Fabricio Camoes (11-5-1) makes his return to Lemoore after his TKO victory over Las Vegas, Nev.’s Steve Lopez (12-4) in February to face Tempe, Ariz.’s Efrain Escudero (15-2) in the co-main event. Like Camoes, Escudero is a UFC veteran and is riding a 2-fight win streak.

The lone title fight on the 13-bout card features Stockton, Calif. featherweight Isaac DeJesus (9-3) against Fresno, Calif.’s Russ Miura (9-1). The current champ, DeJesus, has lost two straight non-title affairs since winning the belt in February of 2010 with a TKO of Garden Grove, Calif.’s Nam Phan (16-8).

Two other feature fights include UFC veteran Gerald Harris and the World’s No. 2 ranked Flyweight Mamoru Yamaguchi in separate bouts.

The Tulsa, Okla. middleweight, Harris (17-4), has lost two straight bouts and the UFC vet is looking to bounce back against local veteran Coarsegold, Calif.’s Anthony Ruiz (25-15).

Japan’s Yamaguchi (25-5-3) brings his exciting style to the US for just the second time and will take on one of the nation’s most exciting flyweights in Albuquerque, N.M.’s John Dodson (11-5).

Also in action;

-Las Vegas, Nev. welterweight Jorge Lopez (8-1) vs. San Diego, Calif.’s Waachiim Spiritwolf (8-7-1).

-Fresno, Calif. bantamweight Cole Escovedo (17-6) vs. Bakersfield, Calif.’s Tommy Vargas (7-1).

-Los Angeles, Calif. welterweight Alan Jouban (1-0) vs. Huntington Beach, Calif.’s Jamie Yager (3-2).

-Fresno, Calif. featherweight Art Arciniega (9-4) vs. San Diego, Calif.’s Robert Peralta (13-3).

-Visalia, Calif. bantamweight Cody Gibson (4-1) vs. San Diego, Calif.’s Walel Watson (7-1).

-Merced, Calif. featherweight Jesse Bowen (7-5) vs. Oakdale, Calif.’s Brad McDonald (5-1).

-Lemoore, Calif. welterweight Mike Martinez (5-2) vs. Oakland, Calif.’s James Chaney (3-0).

-Lemoore, Calif. bantamweight Alex Perez (0-0) vs. Coalinga, Calif.’s Jesus Castro (0-10.)