Von Flue out, McCartney in for welterweight title eliminator
Posted on | June 30, 2007 | No Comments
LEMOORE — Chris Botelho is obviously disappointed.
But the Hanford mixed martial artist isn’t dwelling on the fact that San Luis Obispo’s Jason Von Flue (12-8-1) was pulled from the Palace Fighting Championship’s “Step Up” card on July 19th at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino after being suspended by the California State Athletic Commission after his technical knockout loss to Luke Stewart at Strikeforce in San Jose on June 22nd.
“Disappointed is an understatement. I really wanted to fight this guy (Von Flue) and show people that I belonged fighting bigger name opponents,” Botelho said. “But stuff like this happens and you have to roll with it. I wasn’t training for him, I was training for a fight, and so either way it makes no difference.”
Now Botelho will take on Bakerfield’s Josh McCartney (1-1). McCartney was scheduled to take on Tulare’s Caleb Garcia (4-0), but Garcia was injured and forced to pull out of PFC 3.
“Unfortunately, Jason Von Flue was forced out of this fight due to a medical suspension as a result of a fight in Strikeforce. We all knew that was a possibility, so we had some back up plans in mind,” Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Director Christian Printup said. “I think it’s only fitting that Botelho and McCartney get the chance to finish the fight that they started in January. It’s a great fight and one that I know both guys want to finish convincingly. Those types of fights are special.”
At PFC 1, Botelho (4-2) and McCartney fought to a controversial no decision. In the second round McCartney caught Botelho with what was ruled as an unintentional groin strike and the fight was stopped.
At the time Botelho said he could have continued, but it was the fourth time he was struck in the groin and referee Herb Dean called the bout.
In the first round of the welterweight bout, McCartney had a point taken for a low blow.
In a post fight interview McCartney said, “I definitely didn’t hit him in the groin in the second round. He gave me his best shot and I smiled at him and I feel like he just didn’t want anymore. I’m very disappointed. I’d like to come back, though, and fight him again.”
The comments lit a fire under Botelho, who has gone on record as saying that he’s extremely happy to be fighting McCartney in place of Von Flue.
“Now I get to fight some one I dislike even more than Von Flue,” he said.
The 3-round bout is a welterweight title eliminator.
“The fact that it is a title eliminator is cool but I really don’t think that far ahead I take it one fight at a time, so I am not looking past the 19th. After that, then I will be thinking about the belt no need to add more pressure,” Botelho said.
McCartney is pleased to get back in the ring with Botelho.
“I’m very excited. I’ve been working hard,” McCartney said. “I think this time the win is going to be in my hands as long as it doesn’t get stopped early for some reason.”
PFC 3 “Step up” features two title fights and is the third consecutive sellout show and the fastest sellout in Central Valley MMA history.
Sacramento’s Dave Espinosa (3-0) takes on Porterville’s Shawn Klarzcyk (5-1) for the vacant bantamweight championship and Oroville’s Shawn Bias (10-4) challenges Minnesota’s Aaron Maldonado (4-0) for the vacant featherweight crown.
In one of the more highly anticipated debuts in recent memory, Las Vegas’ Dewey Cooper (0-0) tangles with Venice Beach’s Adam Smith (0-0) in a light heavyweight showdown.
In other bouts:
— Fresno’s Casey Olson (4-1) takes on Stockton’s Brandon Jinnies (2-5) in a lightweight bout.
— Lemoore’s Kenny Ento (6-2) fights Palika Drummondo (2-3) at middleweight.
— Calousa’s Ruben Villareal (11-13-3) takes on Tulare’s Rafael Del Real (4-5) in a heavyweight bout.
— In a welterweight fight, Lemoore’s Mickey Martinez (2-0-1) battles Bakersfield’s Robert Breslin (3-6-1).
— Sacramento’s Mark Munoz (0-0) makes his light heavyweight debut against Elk Grove’s Donny Easterling (0-2).
— In a featherweight bout, Fresno’s Ralph Lopez (2-0) meets Sacramento’s Louie Moreno (1-2).
— Lemoore’s Elvis Franco makes his pro featherweight debut against Anahiem’s Scott Brommage (0-2).
— In a lightweight fight, Las Vegas’ Sean Dizaiy (2-1) fights Palmdale’s Joe Calavitta (1-2).
— Visalia’s Mike Cook (3-1) tangles with Bakersfield’s Paul Mince (4-3) in a heavyweight bout.
— Coalinga’s Mario Rivera (3-4) meets Bakersfield’s Joe Chaidez (2-0) in the welterweight division.
— Sacramento’s Jeremy Freitag (4-5) returns to action at the Palace against Philadelphia’s Lamont Lister (3-2) in a light heavyweight showdown.
— Las Vegas’ Angelo Antuna (4-0) challenges Palmdale’s Seth Dikun in a featherweight fight.
— In a bantamweight eliminator, Jason Georgianna (3-0) takes on Visalia’s Brandon Miller (2-0).
For more breaking PFC news log on to www.palacefightingchampionship.com.