Mitchell looking to ‘break’ McKenzie in title bout

Posted on | April 20, 2010 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. – Rising welterweight star David Mitchell (9-0) will be put to the test on Wednesday, May 5 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.
The Santa Rosa, Calif. mixed martial artist draws veteran Tim McKenzie (13-6) of Lodi, Calif. for the Tachi Palace Fights vacant World Welterweight title bout.

“I think it’s a good matchup for me honestly, you know it’s a striker versus a grappler type fight. Tim has been on the bigger shows and fought some of the bigger names,” said Mitchell, who has won impressively in his two bouts at Tachi.

“This fight might look even on paper, but I think I have equal standup and everyone knows I’m better on the ground, have the better jiu-jitsu and better cardio.”
The bout will be McKenzie’s first at 170 pounds, as he fought at a catch weight of 175 pounds on March 6, 2010 at War of Heroes and defeated Mike Arellano (2-5).
“The cut has been awful. I can’t eat the cookies and pizza that I want. Dieting really sucks and no one likes to be around me right now,” said a laughing McKenzie. “I just have had to be real strict on myself.”

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 know that he’s from a Cesar Gracie affiliate out at Dave Terrell’s gym. I’m sure he has good jiu-jitsu and his stand up isn’t bad. I think this is a good tough fight for me,” McKenzie added.

McKenzie is also a Cesar Gracie product.

“Yeah, I think there’s some bad blood there. Tim used to train under Cesar and with Terrell and I think that Dave isn’t really happy with the situation and everything that happened,” Mitchell said. “But as far as me personally, it’s not really personal. I just have to go out and do my job.

“I’m going in there to win, to finish the fight in the first round with a submission. It’s not really personal, but I’m also going in there and trying to break something.”
In the main event, Hanford, Calif. flyweight Luis Gonzales (2-1) takes on up-and-coming star Ulysses Gomez (5-1) of Las Vegas, Nev. for the vacant 125-pound title and in the co-main event one of the more highly anticipated returns to the Tachi Palace Fresno, Calif.’s Casey Olson (11-3) takes on Porterville, Calif.’s Shawn Klarcyk (9-5) in a featherweight bout.

Also returning to action at Tachi Palace Fights is Lemoore, Calif.’s Poppies Martinez (17-6) in a welterweight tilt with Visalia, Calif.’s Darren Crisp (7-5) and a featherweight special attraction featuring the always exciting Enoch Wilson (13-6-1) of Portland, Ore. against an opponent to be announced.

In one of the biggest signing in Tachi Palace Fights’ short history, 2004 Olympic Silver medalist Stephen Abas will make his pro MMA debut at 135 pounds. Abas is widely regarded as one of the top wrestlers to enter the MMA world. He was a 4-time All American and 3-time National Champion at Fresno State. He will take on Sacramento, Calif.’s Luis Jauregui (0-1).

In other bouts;

– Chino, Calif. flyweight Darrell Montague (5-1) vs. Indianapolis, Ind.’s Jeremy Bolt (22-9).

-Merced, Calif. welterweight Phil Collins (8-5) vs. Porterville, Calif.’s Morris Aldaco (6-0).

-Fresno, Calif. featherweight Russ Miura (5-1) vs. Merced, Calif.’s Jesse Bowen (7-3).

-Lemoore, Calif. middleweight Andrew Martinez (6-2-1) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Mark Matthews (3-4).

-Oakland, Calif. lightweight Rumulo Melo (3-0) vs. Denver, Colo.’s Chase Hackett (3-0).