Seems like Tachi Palace Fights is closing shop

After 11 years of promoting mixed martial arts, the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino is likely out of the fight business.

Sherdog.com confirmed the information with a source close to the situation, who verified that tribal council members have voted to discontinue Tachi Palace Fights during the council’s annual meeting to discuss the casino’s entertainment options in the coming year. As a result, TPF 16, which was scheduled to go down Feb. 21, will not take place. However, Sherdog’s source also stated that if the decision is disputed by the people of the tribe, the population’s opinion could sway the council to change its decision. Nevertheless, even if the tribe votes to challenge the council’s ruling, is unlikely the development would affect the cancellation of TPF 16, as the aforementioned process is not expected to come to a head until February or March, according to Sherdog’s source.

Tachi Palace, which is owned and operated by the Tachi Yokut tribe on the Santa Rosa Rancheria reservation near Lemoore, Calif., began promoting mixed martial arts events in 2001 under the World Extreme Cagefighting banner, hosting 22 of the organization’s first 24 events before the WEC was bought out by Ultimate Fighting Championship parent company Zuffa at the end of 2006.

The Palace Fighting Championship was then formed and held its inaugural event at Tachi Palace in January 2007. The PFC would go on to host 17 of its 19 shows at the venue before it ceased operations in May 2009, prompting the creation of Tachi Palace Fights just two months later.

Since its inception, TPF has held over a dozen events, most recently promoting TPF 15 “Collision Course” on Nov. 15. That show was streamed live on Sherdog.com and was headlined by a light heavyweight title tilt between Angel DeAnda and Anthony Ruiz, with DeAnda capturing the vacant belt via third-round technical knockout.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Source-Tachi-Palace-Fights-to-Shutter-Doors-in-2013-48009

Pretty disappointing considering how high level they once were and how they pretty much had the premier flyweight division outside of Japan.

On the other hand, with the influx of so many other regional promotions like RFA, XFC, Legend, and numerous others, they really took a hit in their depth and sorely showed in all their cards from the past year.

It sucks to see them go when you take into hindsight all that they once accomplished, but I think it's best for them to ride off into the sunset with so many other fledgling promotions doing the same thing they have, while doing it better than they currently are.

^True, there are a ton of regional promotions out there now and the UFC is pulling in the flyweights which didn't help them either.

I wonder where Georgi Karakhanyan and Darrell Montague will end up.

CDF47 wrote:^True, there are a ton of regional promotions out there now and the UFC is pulling in the flyweights which didn't help them either.

I wonder where Georgi Karakhanyan and Darrell Montague will end up.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Karakhanyan back with Bellator, if not there, WSOF seems like a logical fit too.

As for Montague, it only seems like a matter of a time before he's in the UFC. You have to think he wants to avenge his loss to McCall.

wekka wrote:

CDF47 wrote:^True, there are a ton of regional promotions out there now and the UFC is pulling in the flyweights which didn't help them either.

I wonder where Georgi Karakhanyan and Darrell Montague will end up.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Karakhanyan back with Bellator, if not there, WSOF seems like a logical fit too.

As for Montague, it only seems like a matter of a time before he's in the UFC. You have to think he wants to avenge his loss to McCall.

Either would be good for Karakhanyan.