Gomez and Gonzales finally square off at Tachi

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Riding the wave of five submissions and truck load of press, rising flyweight star Ulysses Gomez is expected to meet an even bigger challenge than he did when he faced Rambaa Somdet in his third bout of his MMA career.

On May 5th at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. Gomez (5-1) won’t have the luxury of owning an overwhelming advantage on the ground, like he had in his previous six bouts, but rather he will be the underdog if the fight happens to hit the canvas against Hanford, Calif.’s Luis Gonzales (2-1) a jiu-jitsu black belt.

“I think this is a tougher fight for me personally, but I still feel like people out there just expect me to win,” said Gomez, who trains at Cobra Kai in Las Vegas and with Ken Hahn’s Striking Unlimited. “I think that what he’s shown he is good at in MMA, I’m better at and what I’ve shown I’m good at in MMA, he’s better at. He’s won his fights striking and I’ve won mine on the ground.”

The bout will be the main event of an 11-bout Tachi Palace Fights card and crown the first ever flyweight champ for the upstart promotion.

“I’m excited this has been a long time coming,” said Gonzales, who teaches at several schools in Central California, including his own academy in Tulare and at Hanford’s Valley Fight Club. “I’m very anxious for this fight. People have been talking about this fight for a long time and it’s long overdue.”

The pair were favorites in a 125-pound tournament at Tachi in 2008, but both lost decisions, which derailed their collision course.

“I think that Luis is a good fighter, I really respect his skills,” Gomez said. “Every time that we’ve talked, he’s been nice. I’m really just excited for this fight.” The fight should be one of the more strategic battles on the card.

“I think that we match up well with each other. We are both ground fighters and we are going to see who can dictate who is better in the top position,” Gonzales said.

Gomez is riding a 3-fight win streak into the contest, but doesn’t feel any of the pressures of fighting for a title.

“This is really the same as any other fighter. Yeah, it’s for a belt, but once I get the belt I would wear it around the house a few times and maybe to Taco Bell once or twice and put it away,” Gomez said.

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.

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. .

Tachi Palace Fights will crown its first ever welterweight champ when Santa Rosa, Calif.’s David Mitchell (9-0) takes on Lodi, Calif.’s Tim McKenzie (13-6).

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 between the always exciting Enoch Wilson (13-6-1) of Portland, Ore takes on Las Vegas, Nev.’s Dustin Phillips (11-5).

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).