War Machine vs. John Alessio completes stacked Tachi Palace Fights event

Tachi Palace Fights 5
Lemoore, CA
7/9/10

Rob McCullough vs. Isaac De Jesus (No. 7 FW, No. 37 ULTMMA50)
David Mitchell (No. 13 WW) vs. Poppies Martinez
Cole Escovedo vs. Michael McDonald (No. 6 BW, No. 29 ULTMMA50)
War Machine vs. John Alessio
Dominique Robinson vs. David Kaplan
Gabe Ruediger vs. Lenny Lovato
Stephen Abas vs. Joey de la Cruz
David Bollea vs. Cody Gibson
Francisco Loredo vs. Drew Bittner

Three title fights and four of the top prospects on the west coast take center stage at Tachi Palace Fights 5. One of the better local MMA cards of 2010 is capped off with featherweight prospect Isaac De Jesus (9-1) moving up 15 pounds in weight to take on Rob McCullough (17-6) in a 160 pound catch-weight bout.

At this point of their respective careers it is a interesting fight for both men to agree to. De Jesus is coming off the biggest 145 pound win of his career, a victory over Nam Phan, while McCullough is looking to work his way back up after being cut by the WEC.

If, De Jesus is able to pull off the upset versus McCullough his career will get another shot in the arm. A loss for De Jesus could be labeled as a minor set-back with some questioning why he took a match-up nearly two weight classes above his own.

In bantamweight action Cole Escovedo (16-4) and Michael McDonald (9-1) lock up again in a rematch of a May 2009 fight won handily by Escovedo. With the Tachi Palace Fights 135 pound strap on the line, McDonald will look to halt Escovedo's impressive five fight win streak. Still months shy of his 21st birthday McDonald is a hot prospect who is fresh off the heels of his signature career win versus ex WEC title contender Manny Tapia back in February 2010.

Also, stepping into the cage will be unbeaten four star welterweight prospect David Mitchell (10-0) who will put his belt on the line against local attraction Poppies Martinez (18-6). Perhaps the best prospect of the bunch may be former Olympic Silver Medalist Stephen Abas (1-0) who takes his second pro MMA fight at 135 pounds versus Joey De La Cruz (1-0).  

Press release

John Alessio didn't stress too much over his opponent change for Friday, July 9's Tachi Palace Fights "Stars and Strikes" mixed martial arts show at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

"I definitely want to first just say that I hope (Brad) Blackburn heals up soon and that I was really looking forward to that fight. I'm very happy that Tachi Palace Fights didn't have me sitting around waiting for an opponent and they didn't just cut the fight. They had some one right away and I really appreciate that," said Alessio, who will take on War Machine in the co-main event at the Palace.

War Machine (11-3) will replace Blackburn, who had to withdraw from the bout because of a cut.

"War Machine has a good record at 11-3 and won six of his last seven fights. I will be ready, but I don't see any problems for me in this fight. I don't see any aspect of the game that he is better than me at. He is a tough dude and probably come in swinging to take my head off."

This will be War Machine's final fight before he is scheduled to spend a year in a San Diego jail, according to his Twitter account. War Machine was a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter 6" and previously was known as Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change.

He was arrested May 30 outside Thruster's Lounge in San Diego under suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

"I'm glad I got this fight. I need to make some money to leave with my wife while I'm locked up. Took this fight on very short notice, but a man's got to do what a man's got to do. Jail is going to suck and be so boring can't wait to get out and fight again," said War Machine, who last saw action May 15 when he submitted Zach Light.

"I actually trained with Alessio all last year at Xtreme Couture. He's a well-seasoned vet, real tough with great skills. We had many good sparring sessions the last year. I remember back when I was a youngster; before I ever started fighting I saw him fight in the UFC. John was young, but did great. I thought wow this dude is going to be good," War Machine added.

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.

If you can't attend the fights you can watch them live on GoFightLive.tv at 6 p.m. PST. Cost of the stream is just $9.99.

In the main event, "Razor" Rob McCullough returns to his roots at the Palace in a catch weight bout with fast-rising star Isaac DeJesus of Fresno, Calif. DeJesus (9-1). DeJesus is the Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight champ and makes the jump up in weight to take on Huntington Beach, Calif.'s McCullough (17-6) at 160 pounds.

"I see this fight being great. Lots of face punching and submission scrambles. I'm looking for an early KO, so I can grab a beer and get back to eating all the junk food I can find before going away," War Machine said.

This fight is a lot more pivotal in the career of Alessio (28-13), who carries a 4-fight win streak into the contest.

"I'm more ready than ever to fight. I've really worked a lot harder than I ever have this last year and trying to get back to the UFC. I'm putting everything into this and been working so hard," Alessio said. "This is the type of fight that I feel can really put me back in the UFC."

The 9-bout card is also packed with three title fights, as welterweight champ David Mitchell (10-0) of Santa Rosa, Calif. defends his belt against Lemoore, Calif.'s Poppies Martinez (18-6) and bantamweight title holder Cole Escovedo (16-4) of Fresno, Calif. defends against Oakdale, Calif.'s Michael McDonald (9-1). Also, Rancho Cucamonga Calif.'s Gabe Ruediger (16-5) and Albuquerque, N.M.'s Lenny Lovato (8-0) battle for the Tachi Palace Fights vacant lightweight strap.

Also, UFC veteran David Kaplan (2-3) of Las Vegas, Nev. takes on Oakland, Calif.'s Dominique Robinson (4-4) in a lightweight tilt; Olympic Silver Medalist Stephen Abas (1-0) of Fresno, Calif. makes his return to the Palace in a bantamweight bout with Lemoore, Calif.'s Joey DeLaCruz (1-0); Las Vegas, Nev. lightweight David Bollea (2-0), who is the nephew of wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan, takes on Visalia, Calif.'s Cody Gibson (3-0); and Coalinga, Calif. bantamweight Francisco Loredo (4-5) fights Soledad, Calif.'s Drew Bittner (3-0).