TPF card changes, webcast confirmed

Poppies Martinez.jpg

(Poppies Martinez)

Tachi Palace Fights 13 has lost two relatively big fights but the showcontinues with replacements Thursday, May 10th. TPF 13 takes place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, CAwith a live free webcast on Sherdog.com.

Originally Ulysses Gomez was to fight Adam Rothweiler until Gomez was diagnosedwith a staph infection.  Hector Sandovalwas announced as a replacement for Gomez but now that fight is also off asRothweiler reportedly never accepted the fight. Also off the card is a fight between Francisco Rivera and Casey Olsen asRivera is now signed to fight on the UFC on Fuel TV 3 card.

Joe SotoSo that leaves for a main event former Bellator champion Joe Soto vs. WEC vetChad George.  Until the summer of 2010Soto was on top of the independent world with a perfect record includingwinning the Bellator featherweight title. In late 2010 however Soto hit a bit of a speed bump by first losing theBellator title to Joe Warren in September before losing to Eddie Yagin inSoto’s TPF debut the following August. After another five months off Soto returned in January of this year fora rear-naked choke win over Chris David making it seem he may be on the wayback up.  George has a similar speed bumpin 2010 with two losses in WEC which he followed up with three wins in 2011-12,most recently defeating Shad Smith in BAMMA USA just four weeks ago.

Ian LovelandAlex CrispimHot off his UFC run Ian Loveland makes his TPF debut in the co-main event wherehe takes on Strikeforce vet Alexander Crispim. 14-9 Loveland went 1-2 in the UFC with losses last year to JosephBenavidez and most recently Yves Jabouin. 7-3 Crispim is literally half as experienced however his performances inShark Fights and Strikeforce have raised interest while his March loss to AndreFili by unanimous decision is his first loss in three years.

TPF 13 card:

Andrew Valladerez vs. Martin Sandoval
Paul Ruiz vs. Ruben Trujillo
Darrell Montague vs. TaylorMcCorriston
Chidi Njokuani vs. John Reedy
Sergio Cortez vs. Art Archiniega
Poppies Martinez vs. Tony Llamas
Ian Loveland vs. Alexander Crispim
Joe Soto vs. Chad George