Arreola steps up to 170 pounds to challenge McClain for title

VISALIA, Calif. – The build up for 559 Fights Friday in Visalia was one for the record books, pitting two of the top local amateur mixed martial artist against each other in a championship showdown.

But when an injury forced 559 Fights Lightweight Champion Evan Solorio (5-2) to withdraw, former Featherweight Champion Alberto Arreola was forced to make some big decisions for his return to Visalia Rawhide Stadium.

“I had some options on which direction to go. I could have sat out and waited for Evan, I could have fought some lesser opponents possibly, but ultimately I’m here to challenge myself,” said Lemoore’s Arreola, who carries an 11-0 record into Friday’s fights.

“Fighters get hurt, it’s part of the game. I’m not always 100 percent healthy, but I’m doing this for the experience and to make me a better professional in the future and that’s why I wanted to fight (Justin) McClain.”

559 Fights pieced together an equally high-profile fight, pitting the No. 2 ranked Welterweight in the State against Arreola.  Marina’s McClain carries a 12-5-1 record into the bout, winning five of his last six bouts.

“It’s never easy getting the calls about an injury or illness, but it happens so often you really have to be prepared to make some adjustments,” said 559 Fights President and Owner Jeremy Luchau. “We were blessed that we had two guys that were looking to challenge themselves rather than take the easy way out.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. and fights start at 7. Tickets start at just $20 and are available at Visalia Nutrishop or the Rawhide Box Office. For VIP information call 559-813-0307.

McClain was originally scheduled to take on Fresno’s Garret Marks (4-0) for the vacant Welterweight title, but Marks received a cut over his eye during training and could not compete.

“The cut sucks, but it happens. I’m happy to have Arreola step up and take the fight. Fighting on short notice is never easy, especially with records like ours,” McClain said. “I go for the finish. My last fight ended in knockout and I’d like to do the same.”

Arreola moved up two weight classes, vacating his Featherweight Title to compete for the Welterweight Title.

“The titles aren’t important. I’m honored to fight for 559 Fights, but really I just want to challenge myself. The toughest option for me was with McClain,” Arreola said. “I’m not sure what happens after this fight, but I will be looking to challenge myself regardless of weight class. I’m just trying to learn right now and get better. Maybe me and Evan can meet down the road, I’m sure that he’s injured pretty bad, because he was willing to vacate his title, which was the honorable thing to do in this situation.”

Weigh-ins will be held Friday morning at 10 a.m. at CrossFit West Visalia.

In the co-main event, 559 Fights Cruiserweight Champion Myles Shaw (9-2) defends his title for the first time against Paso Robles’ Andre Nickelson (6-4).

“There’s no one in the state that wants to fight this guy (Shaw),” Luchau said of the Stockton fighter, who is ranked No. 1 in the State. “I could only really think of one or two guys that would step up and compete, Andre was the first person that came to mind. He’s an athlete and was ranked in the Top 5 at 205 pounds. I wasn’t sure he would come up in weight, but he really stepped up to the challenge.”

In another cruiserweight showdown, Kerman’s Leo Cantu (8-3-1) takes on Hanford’s Daniel Hernandez (2-4) and in a flyweight rematch Fresno’s Carlos Hernandez squares off with Porterville’s Josh Sudbeck (2-1).

“There are a couple fights that are really important to the landscape of future title fights and main events,” Luchau said. “We have some pretty important undercard bouts on this card featuring several talented locals.”

Bakersfield middleweight Eric Huggins (2-3) takes on Hanford’s Daniel Ortiz (1-2) and Farmersville lightweight Juan Campos (2-1) fights Visalia’s Fabian Luevano (2-3-1).

In other bouts;

-Modesto bantamweight Daniel Osequera (3-2) vs. Hanford’s Ricardo Vasquez (1-3).

-Visalia bantamweight Aaron Warnke (1-1) vs. Ridgecrest’s Luis Garcia (0-2).

-Visalia welterweight Chris Gottschall (1-0) vs. Fresno’s Bryant Franklin (0-0).

-Escalon featherweight Steve Ronneberg (0-1) vs. Linden’s Edgar Quinonez (0-0).

-Huron featherweight Rudy Soto (0-1) vs. Ridgecrest Myles Lowis (0-0).

-Bakersfield lightweight Cameron Ramirez (0-0) vs. Stockton’s Anthony Taylor (0-0).

-Visalia cruiserweight Jef McQuilliams (0-0) vs. San Leandro’s Amir Lacey (2-0).

-Citrus Heights middleweight Casey Parcell (0-0) vs. Stockton’s Levi Scott (0-0).

Team Ochoa’s Aispuro, Martinez lead amateur lineup at Kings Fair

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HANFORD, Ca. – Avenal’s Jose Aispuro and Lemoore’s Anthony Martinez lead a hungry Team Ochoa into Friday, July 6’s 559 Fights 3 at the Kings County Fairgrounds. 

Aispuro (2-1) is one of a new breed of Team Ochoa members that has drawn a lot of attention from mixed martial arts fans in the Central Valley. His decision victory in May over Kingsburg’s John Mathison helped vault Aispuro to a No. 5 ranking in the CAMO amateur rankings.

“Team Ochoa is bringing a lot of great talent to the local MMA scene right now, “ said 559 Fights’ Jeremy Luchau. “Aispuro is one of the guys spearheading their amateur group right now. I don’t think you could ask for a better guy to lead the way.”

559 Fights is tabbed as one of the main attractions of this year’s Kings Fair in Hanford. The up-start amateur promotion has successfully produced two shows at the fairgrounds, and currently has six shows on the calendar before the year ends.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with fights starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $25 with reserved seating being priced at $40. Tickets can be purchased online at www.559fights.com or at the Kings Fairgrounds Office. VIP Tables are also available and can be purchased by calling 559-362-4046.

Joining Aispuro at the top of the 12-bout fight card is the exciting light heavyweight Martinez (2-0).

“Martinez is another one of those Team Ochoa guys that is really impressing fight fans,” Luchau said. “He isn’t just a big intimidating fighter, he also has impressive technique for an amateur and I think he will be a guy that has the ability to be an impressive pro in our area.”

Aispuro takes on Hanford’s Wilbert Rogers (0-0) in the main event. Rogers was a late add, as several of the top heavyweights in California were not available to compete on July 6. Meanwhile, Martinez draws Huntington Beach’s Andre Nickelson (3-2), who has two technical knockouts to his credit.

Also returning to the 559 Fights cage is Lemoore featherweight Albert Arreola (2-0), who defeated Hanford’s Steven Juarez by submission in the main event in May. Arreola takes on Cutler’s Lawrence Requejo (1-0).

Juarez is also back and faces Dos Palos newcomer Salomon Ramirez.

“Arreola and Juarez are two guys that have also really been impressive. Both have very strong wrestling backgrounds, but have come in and shown some diverse skills,” Luchau added.

Another standout wrestler making his amateur debut is former Lemoore state champ Nick Sierra (0-0), who meets Orosi welterweight Leo Quezada (2-2). Quezada dazzled the 559 Fights’ crowd in May with a 50 second submission victory over Hanford’s Tyson Darn.

“We have several great athletes on our fight cards, but I think with the Central Valley being such a hotbed for wrestling, we can draw some real rising stars,” Luchau said. “If you were a California State Wrestling Champ, that means something across the nation. We are lucky enough to have a few of those guys fighting for us right now.”

The 559 Fights weighins will take place on Thursday, July 5 at Visalia’s Adventure Park. Fighters are scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m. for what 559 Fights is dubbing a pre-fight party.

“We are trying to pride ourselves on being a family event and we’ve built a great partnership with Visalia Adventure Park for a pre-fight and weighin party that is going to cater to families,” Luchau said. “Visalia Adventure Park has some great offers on that Thursday for 559 Fights and we want to encourage fans to bring their children and enjoy some time out at the park.”

Visalia Adventure Park has a special 559 Fights offer that includes laser tag, miniature golf, bumper boats, family race track and an all-you-can-eat buffet for just $20. The offer is good between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9. Use promo key word 559 Fights.

Other bouts include;

-Kingsburg, Calif. heavyweight John Mathison (1-2) vs. Dinuba, Calif.’s Juan Carlos Trevino (0-0).

-Bakersfield, Calif. featherweight Samuel Montiel (0-1) vs. Visalia’s Cameron Ramirez (1-0).

-Lemoore, Calif. welterweight Dustin Cotta (0-0) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Jamal Kaid (0-0).

-Hanford, Calif. featherweight Jose Pacheco (0-1) vs. Orosi, Calif.’s Gilbert Quezada (0-1).

-Hanford, Calif. lightweight John Gonzales (0-1) vs. Orosi, Calif.’s Hector Manuel Contreraz (0-0).

-Fresno, Calif. middleweight Matt Kniffen (0-0) vs. Kingsburg, Calif.’s Robert Vildosola (0-1).

-Lemoore, Calif. lightweight Jesus Sanchez (0-0) vs. Visalia, Calif.’s Corey Hargis (0-0).