Gomez and Collins make anticipated returns

Posted on | October 1, 2009 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. – The return of mixed martial arts at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. will be especially sweet for two fighters that have called the Palace their home for the last couple years.
Both Phil Collins and Ulysses Gomez waited patiently for a new promotion to take flight at the casino, which is recognized world-wide as the birth place of two of the greatest regional promotions ever formed the WEC and PFC.

Neither has fought for any other promotions, opting to wait for the Palace to move in a new direction.

“This is my home, this is where I’ve always wanted to fight and the Palace has always treated the fighters right,” said Collins, who hails from Merced, Calif. and trains out of Josh Koscheck’s AKA gym in Fresno, Calif. “Really the only thing that’s changed for me is that now the fights are in a cage and with 5-minute rounds. All the same people are there running it like Jeremy (Luchau), Richard (Goodman) and Jacob (Jeff). All those guys have always taken care of me and all the fighters.”

Collins (7-4) will be part of the Tachi Palace Fights inaugural fight card titled “Most Wanted” which takes place Thursday, October 8. He faces a tough middleweight out of Oakland, Calif. Leopoldo Serao (15-7)
Tickets can be purchased at www.tickets.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 $20 for general admission seating.
Also, the Palace is offering a hotel/ticket package with one night accommodation at the hotel and two general admission tickets to the event for just $119. To receive the package, call the hotel at 866-472-5223 and use promotional code TRPM1.

Gomez has become one of the brightest stars at the Palace, starting his MMA career at the Central California venue. The Las Vegas, Nev. grappler is considered one of the hottest 125-pound prospects in the world at just 3-1 and will take on Collins’ former teammate at Last Stand Fight Team, Martin Sandoval (4-1) from Oakdale, Calif.

“I’ve seen Sandoval fight before and he’s scrappy, aggressive and maybe a little wild. I know that he’s probably going to want to keep this fight on the feet,” said Gomez, who has three submissions to his credit. “I’ve got somewhat of a game plan, but everyone has one ‘til you get hit in the face.”

Sandoval has been on a hot streak after losing his MMA debut, winning four straight fights all by stoppage.
“They make a lot of hype about Gomez. I mean I know he’s a good grappler, but he gets a lot of attention. I’m just going to go out and do my job and put on a good show,” Sandoval said. “I know he’s going to want to take me down. He doesn’t look like a guy that likes to get out there and bang. I’ve wrestled and I can defend the takedown. Win or lose he will know that he’s been in a good fight.”

The flyweight battle is expected to be an early look at a possible title shot.

“I feel comfortable on my feet and I can keep it there if not we can go to the ground,” said Gomez, who trains his jiu-jitsu at Mark Laimon’s Cobra Kai gym with training partner Simpson Go and his kick boxing with Ken Hahn at Striking Unlimited.

“The first minute will tell me a lot about the fight. I’m not a boxer, so I’m going to be brief.”

Much like the Gomez-Sandoval fight, Collins versus Serao will be a battle of striker against grappler.

“I’m trying to keep the fight standing and if the fight goes to the ground my goal is to not be on my back against this guy,” Collins said. “I’m sure that he’s training harder on his stand up out at Fairtex. We are both working hard on our weaknesses I’m sure.”

Collins and Serao were originally scheduled to fight last May, but an infection forced Serao out of the fight.
“It’s going to be a great fight. My health is 100 percent now. Last time I had a staph infection that went unnoticed, but blew up really fast. Now, I am healthy and ready to fight, no problems,” Serao said. “Anything can happen. We can strike, go to the ground. Phil Collins is well rounded. I will do whatever I need to win.”
The main event of the night pits local wrestling star Hanford, Calif. featherweight Chad Mendes (4-0) against Bend, Ore.’s Mike Joy (7-4). It will be Mendes’ toughest test to date, as the Urijah Faber protégé faces the more experienced Joy.

In the co-main event, Las Vegas, Nev. welterweight War Machine (10-2) takes on Santa Rosa, Calif.’s David Mitchell (7-0).

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and fights start at 6 p.m.

The weighins will take place at the Palace’s Sunset Lounge located on the first floor of the Palace across from the Coyote Grille. Weighins are slated to begin at 5 p.m. and fans are encouraged to come mingle with the fighters.

In other bouts:

-Porterville, Calif. featherweight Joe Soto (7-0) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Mike Christenson (4-0).

-Lemoore, Calif. welterweight Poppies Martinez (16-5) vs. Porterville, Calif.’s Tony Llamas (8-10).

-Oakdale, Calif. bantamweight Michael McDonald (7-1) vs. Huntington Beach, Calif.’s Carlos Garces (3-1).

-Las Vegas, Nev. flyweight Jessica Rakoczy (0-0) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Michelle Ould (3-2)

-Exeter, Calif. featherweight Chris Tangonan (2-0) vs. Coalinga, Calif.’s Francisco Loredo (3-5).