Jorge "Van Damme" Oliveira made his return to MMA action after over a 2-year layoff to submit former UFC fighter James "The Sandman" Irvin in just over a minute and a half. In classic dopey Irvin fashion, with the BJJ black belt Oliveira on his back on the ground, instead of standing up to force Oliveira back up to his feet, Irvin hung out on top of Oliveira, dangling his arm with his head down until Oliveira locked on a triangle and wrenched Irvin's arm to force the tapout. Irvin has lost 4 out of his last 5 fights, so now it's The Sandman who's having nightmares instead of giving them.
Undefeated Brazilian flyweight sensation Jussier "Formiga" Da Silva made his United States debut with a decision victory over a game but ultimately overmatched Danny Martinez. Da Silva is likely next in line to face the winner of the upcoming TPF Flyweight Championship fight between champion Ulysses "Useless" Gomez and Darrell "The Mongoose" Montague.
Micah "Maverick" Miller, younger brother of UFC lightweight Cole Miller, failed to make weight for the first time in his career in what was supposed to be a TPF Featherweight Championship fight against champion Isaac De Jesus. Because Miller weighed in over 2 pounds over the 145-pound weight limit, he was deducted 20-percent of his purse and the fight was changed to a non-title bout. Miller won the fight with a neck crank in the first round, however, De Jesus remains the champ and Miller's chances are now bleak at using this victory to secure a spot in the UFC's new featherweight division. Hopefully Tachi Palace Fights can put together a rematch, with Miller making weight, and then maybe we can see Miller fighting in the Octagon alongside his big brother.
John "The Natural" Alessio, who recently had to turn down an offer to fight in the UFC due to a contractual obligation to continue in the United Glory tournament in Holland in early 2011, captured the TPF Welterweight Championship in a plodding fight with a TKO victory over Phil "The Pain" Collins, a man whose name has inspired its share of jokes in MMA website comment sections.
The Ultimate Fighter 11 participant Seth "The Polish Pistola" Baczynski used punches and elbows to score a TKO over former UFC fighter Tim "The Wrecking Machine" McKenzie. McKenzie has now lost 3 straight fights and is turning into "The Getting Wrecked Machine" with just a single victory in his last 5 fights.
In a true reversal of fortunes, former UFC fighter Jay Silva, who was coming off 3 straight losses including a 6-second KO loss in his last fight to Hector Lombard at Bellator 18, scored his own quick knockout win with a 33-second KO of Jaime "El Cucui" Jara, who had been riding an 8-fight winning streak.
In the opening fight of the night, Nik "The Machete" Fekete improved his undefeated record to 4-0 with a TKO victory over Chris "El Gringo" Bostick. Fekete wrestled at Michigan State University alongside current UFC stars Gray Maynard and Rashad Evans, and has long served as a key wrestling training partner for some of the top athletes in MMA including Evans, Forrest Griffin and Dan Henderson. Fekete is definitely a fighter to watch out for in the future.
TACHI PALACE FIGHTS 7: DECK THE HALLS
Jorge Oliveira (5-2) won by SUB over James Irvin (14-8)
[1:33] - Round 1 - triangle armbar
Jussier Da Silva (9-0) won by UD over Danny Martinez (13-4)
[15:00] - 3 Rounds - (29-28 all)
Micah Miller (16-4) won by SUB over Isaac De Jesus (9-3)
[4:11] - Round 1 - neck crank
{Welterweight Championship}
John Alessio (30-13) won by TKO over Phil Collins (9-6)
[10:35] - 0:35 Round 3 - punches
Seth Baczynski (12-6) won by TKO over Tim McKenzie (12-8)
[2:15] - Round 1 - punches and elbows
Jay Silva (6-4) won by KO over Jaime Jara (28-8)
[0:33] - Round 1 - punches
Tommy Vargas (7-1) won by UD over Martin Sandoval (6-3)
[15:00] - 3 Rounds
Tony Llamas (10-12) won by SUB over Sergio Quinones (4-7)
[7:03] - 2:03 Round 2 - armbar
Jimmy Ambriz (15-14) won by TKO over Mike Guidry (2-3)
[9:29] - 4:29 Round 2 - punches
Nik Fekete (4-0) won by TKO over Chris Bostick (5-3)
[9:06] - 4:06 Round 2 - punches
[1:33] - Round 1 - triangle armbar
Jussier Da Silva (9-0) won by UD over Danny Martinez (13-4)
[15:00] - 3 Rounds - (29-28 all)
Micah Miller (16-4) won by SUB over Isaac De Jesus (9-3)
[4:11] - Round 1 - neck crank
{Welterweight Championship}
John Alessio (30-13) won by TKO over Phil Collins (9-6)
[10:35] - 0:35 Round 3 - punches
Seth Baczynski (12-6) won by TKO over Tim McKenzie (12-8)
[2:15] - Round 1 - punches and elbows
Jay Silva (6-4) won by KO over Jaime Jara (28-8)
[0:33] - Round 1 - punches
Tommy Vargas (7-1) won by UD over Martin Sandoval (6-3)
[15:00] - 3 Rounds
Tony Llamas (10-12) won by SUB over Sergio Quinones (4-7)
[7:03] - 2:03 Round 2 - armbar
Jimmy Ambriz (15-14) won by TKO over Mike Guidry (2-3)
[9:29] - 4:29 Round 2 - punches
Nik Fekete (4-0) won by TKO over Chris Bostick (5-3)
[9:06] - 4:06 Round 2 - punches
Updated MMA win-loss records with total fight time in brackets.
UD = Unanimous Decision | SUB = Submission
