By FCF Staff
Cole Escovedo will be looking to keep his momentum at the upcoming, May 6th, Tachi Palace Fights card in Lemoore, California, when the veteran takes on bantamweight Tommy Vargas. Escovedo returned to the winner’s column with a first round submission win over Steven Siler in January, after dropping back-to-back bouts against UFC vets Michihiro Omigawa and Michael McDonald.The losses put an end to Escovedo's five fight winning streak, which included victories over Yoshihiro Maeda and the aforementioned McDonald.
“I haven’t changed too much up. It’s a normal training camp for me. The one thing, though, that I have done is put a little more emphasis on some strength, not your typical strength and conditioning, but more like grip strength and muscle endurance that’s used when grappling and fighting,” said Escovedo (17-6) in a press release from TPF.
Vargas will head into their May 6th tilt having won two straight bouts; most recently at TPF 7 in December, he scored a unanimous decision win over Martin Sandoval.
“I know that Cole has a very good ground game, but I do have a strategy for that,” said Vargas. “I’m really not impressed with his takedowns. He kind of just tries to pull you to the ground and even if the fight goes there I really can’t see him tapping me. I don’t get tapped often in the gym and I have some of the best workout partners.”
“He is a legit wrestler. I’m sure he will try to get a takedown and ride me out, but I could be wrong,” Escovedo noted. “I know I will have a good reach on him and I will use that to my advantage. I really can’t commit to moving forward, because that’s where he will get that easy takedown. I will take the center of the cage, though, and make him adjust and frustrate him.”
Here is the complete line-up for TPF 9, which will be hosted by Lemoore’s Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.
Main Event
FLW-Ian McCall (9-2) vs. Dustin Ortiz (7-0)
Featherweight Championship
Isaac De Jesus (9-3) vs. Russ Miura (9-1)
Co-Main Event
LW-Efrain Escudero (15-2) vs. Fabricio Camoes (11-5-1)
MW-Anthony Ruiz (25-15) vs. Gerald Harris (17-3)
FLW-John Dodson (11-5) vs. Mamoru Yamaguchi (25-5-3)
WW-Jorge Lopez (8-1) vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf (8-7-1)
BW-Cole Escovedo (17-6) vs. Tommy Vargas (7-1)
WW-Alan Jouban (1-0) vs. Jamie Yager (3-2)
FW-Art Arciniega (9-4) vs. Josh Herrick (6-2)
BW-Cody Gibson (4-1) vs. Walel Watson (7-1)
FW-Jesse Bowen (7-5) vs. Brad McDonald (5-1)
WW-Kenny Ento (10-5) vs. James Chaney (3-0)
BW-Alex Perez (0-0) vs. Jesus Castro (0-1)
