“And I’m Clubber Lang,” said the Merced, Calif. mixed martial artist Phil Collins. “He (John Alessio) is the superstar. He’s doing all the interviews, the pretty boy and already calling himself the champ,” said Collins, who takes on the Las Vegas, Nev. veteran on Thursday, December 2 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino for the vacant Tachi Palace Fights Welterweight title.
“You know what? I just train. I’m grinding harder than he is. I work harder than him. I’m not all in the press like he is. And I’m going to put it on him like Clubber did Rocky.”
Collins (9-5) is a Central Valley favorite that’s called the Palace his home, fighting in the World Extreme Cagefighting and Palace Fighting Championship and most recently the Tachi Palace Fights where he has won two straight fights.
“This is a big fight for me. It’s the type of fight that I’ve always wanted and this is the fight that I think that can get me out of the area,” Collins said. “I’m tired of beating up all the local guys.”
This bout has turned into a war of words on the social media front with each fighter exchanging words on Twitter and Facebook with Collins most recently saying, “@johnalessio79…lol dismantle??? I don’t think so pretty boy…lmao”
It’s been an exchange between both fighters for several weeks.
“I’ve seen a little footage on him,” said Alessio (30-13). “He is a tough guy. I’m not going to underestimate him.” But that doesn’t mean that Alessio believes Collins really beat him. “I’m taking him serious, but I truly feel I’m better and more well-rounded as a fighter. He doesn’t have better stand up than me and we know that my ground is going to be too much for him,” Alessio added. “I imagine we will see a lot of standup in this fight. It will be exciting he will throw some big bombs, but I’m a lot more accurate and if it goes to the ground I’ve been on a streak there.”
Alessio has put together an impressive 6-fight win streak with five of the victories coming by submission. “I’ve fought better guys. I train with better guys. I know that he doesn’t hit harder than Doug Marshall and his jiu-jitsu isn’t as good as Leopoldo Serao’s,” Collins said. “He’s not going to KO me and he won’t sub me.”
In the main event UFC veteran James Irvin of Sacramento, Calif. takes on battle-tested Jorge Oliveira of San Francisco, Calif. Irvin (15-7) snapped 3-fight skid recently with a knock of Angel DeAnda. Meanwhile, Oliveira (4-2-1) will be fighting for the first time in over two years. The co-main event features a Tachi Palace Fights championship showdown, as current featherweight champ Isaac DeJesus (9-2) of Stockton, Calif. defends his title against Coconut Creek, Fla.’s Micah Miller (15-4).
The 10-bout card also features Brazil’s Jussier da Silva (7-0) against San Diego, Calif.’s Danny Martinez (13-3). Da Silva is widely regarded as the world’s top flyweight and will put that to the test against Martinez, who makes his drop to 125 pounds after a successful run at bantamweight
In other bouts:
Seth Baczynski (11-6) vs. Tim McKenzie (12-8)
Jaime Jara (28-7) vs. Jay Silva (5-4)
Tommy Vargas (6-1) vs. Martin Sandoval (6-2)
Sergio Quinones (5-6) vs. Any Miranda (4-1)
Mike Guidry (2-2) vs. Jimmy Ambriz (14-14-1)
Chris Bostick (6-2) vs.Nik Fekete (3-0)
