Gomez Wins Via "No Mas" Choke

Ruiz Teaches Professor At Tachi Palace Casino

Lemoore, CA - Tachi Palace Casino & Resort held its second Tachi Palace Fights, dubbed Brawl in the Hall, Dec 3. Main event fighter Ulysses Gomez, a Marc Laimon Cobra Kai practitioner, showed off his signature "No Mas" choke improving his record to 5-1, all wins coming via submission.

Ulysses Gomez wins via "No Mas" Choke

Gomez was one step ahead of his opponent Chino Nicholas the whole fight. Passing guard, mounting and threatening even when Chino did get a top position, he struggled to not get submitted and keep position. Gomez's stand-up looked crisp, but it was his deadly submissions that once again earned him a W.

American Kickboxing Academy (Fresno) fighter Anthony "A-Train" Ruiz earned a ground and pound victory over Muay Thai fighter Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam, in a co-main event the ended a night of great fights for the Palace.

Anthony Ruiz

Ruiz defended everything the Professor threw at him, being taken down, guard passed, mounted, back taken and body triangled, and reversed him to crowd frenzy at the final minutes of the first round. Ruiz got a couple take downs in the second, and landed some great punches when his back was taken keeping the Professor from sinking a choke in the third. Ruiz stayed aggressive and kept getting takedowns, getting a final takedown with a minute left to earn the unanimous decision.

Anthony Ruiz with the AKA crew

Spaniard's Fight of the night goes to Diego "The Octopus" Saraiva and Eddie "The Filipino Phenom" Yagin, these two slugged it out till the doctor stepped in and stopped the fight for a cut close to Yagin's eye in the third. Yagin took it to Diego with quick jabs and counter punching, cutting Diego early in the first. Diego came alive after getting his faced punched in when Yagin was landing. Yet, it seemed to awaken the Atlanta Georgia native, as he throws up his hands and screams bring it! Diego started landing shots of his own and as the tide started to turn, so did the color of Yagin's face. Yagin didn't let the blood or huge mouse on his face get to him as he stayed in the fight all the way to the end. Sad way to see this fight end with only 1:53 left in the last round, but protection of a fighter's sight is key. Hopefully we'll see a Yagin vs Saraiva II.

Eddie Yagin post-fight

My Coveted "You got Knocked the F*ck out award" goes to Shawn Klarcyk who was the victim of a vicious up-kick by Jesse Bowen to drop the Porterville fighter, and force the referee to step in and stop the fight shortly after a couple more shots from Bowen. Final time 2:08 in the first. 

Shawn Klarcyk aided by referee                       Jesse Bowen with arms raised

Former Pride Fighter Cyrille "The Snake" Diabate didn't need much time finishing fighter Rob Smith. Diabate landed some punches that had the room echoing, I think I even have a headache from those shots so I know Mr.Smith's needed some Advil for sure. Diabate finally sunk a rear naked choke at 1:47 in the first round.

Cyrille Diabate sinks the choke                              Diabate with arm raised in victory

Former IFL Seattle Tigershark fighter, Shad Lierley, was on the card matched up against Team Buhawe Fighter John Reedy. However, Reedy showed up 6 pounds over and wouldn't agree to be within 20 pounds of the weight class on fight night so the fight was cancelled.

David Mitchell tapped out Bobby Green via toe-hold in 54 seconds of the very first round. It must have really been sunk as Green was limping for the rest of the night. Mitchell remains undefeated and improves to 9-0, 7 wins coming by submission.

David Mitchell

Rio De Janeiro Brazil's jiu-jitsu ace Romulo Melo was rumored to "have to take his YouTube video's off the web to find an opponent" for this fight, and I see why. This fight was over before it started, more just the details of how and what time so here goes... Rear Naked Choke @ 2:17 defeating the now 1-10 Cody Canterbury.

Romulo Melo entering the cage

And last but not least, Cody Gibson won a unanimous decision over Ray Cervera. These two battled for three three's and Cervera even started to come alive in the third, but in the end Gibson got the judge's decision, all unanimous.

Cody Gibson

Tachi Palace Fights 3 will be held Feb 4, 2010 and will crown its first champions on the card. For more info on the Tachi Palace Resort and Casino, visit tachipalace.com.

Lovely Ring Card Girl                                                                          Jeremy Luchau w Spaniard

TACHI PALACE FIGHTS 2 RESULTS

Featherweight
Cody Gibson (2-0) defeated Ray Cervera (2-0) by Unanimous Decision

Lightweight
Romulo Melo (2-0) def Cody Canterbury (1-9) by Rear Naked Choke @ 2:17 Rd 1

Featherweight
Jesse Bowen (6-3) def Shawn Klarcyk (9-4) by TKO (Ref Stoppage) @ 2:08 Rd 1

Welterweight
David Mitchell (8-0) def Bobby Green (6-7) by Toe-Hold @ 0:54 Rd 1

Light Heavyweight
Cyrille Diabate (14-6-1) def Rob Smith (20-13-1) by Rear Naked Choke @ 1:47 Rd 1

Featherweight
Diego Saraiva (16-8-1) def Eddie Yagin (15-6-1) by TKO (Doc Stoppage) @ 3:07 Rd 1

Middlweight
Anthony Ruiz (22-13) def Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-11) by Unanimous Decision

Flyweight
Ulysses Gomez (4-1) def Chino Nicholas (4-0) by Guillotine Choke @ 4:31 Rd 1