jluchau
11-09-2007, 06:50 PM
NEW TOWN, ND Brad Imes wouldn't fighting back in Lemoore for the Palace Fighting Championship.
But first the Sacramento heavyweight will settle for a test at Four Bears Casino in New Town, ND at PFC 5's "Beatdown at 4 Bears" on Saturday.
"It's not the size of the venue that matters," said Imes (9-3), who will take on a tough undefeated Chris Blair (9-0) of Kearney, NE. Both made weight on Friday night, as did the rest of the 8-bout card.
"My first three fights were in the WEC at the Palace in Lemoore. I think that it would be great to get back there," Imes added. "I'm sure a lot of people will remember me."
Imes isn't a fighter that is easily forgotten. He began his mixed martial arts career with a victory over Sacramento's Jeremy Freitag (6-5) at World Extreme Cagefighting 12 in Oct. of 2004. Freitag has moved on a become the PFC World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Imes is also a Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and gained wide-spread acclaim as a runner up on Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter season 2.
"This will be my toughest fight to date," Blair said. "Imes is a world class fighter that's fought top-level fighters.
And Blair is trying to make his way up.
"My game plan is to not get hit, take what he has and give as much back," Blair said. "I'm a strong wrestler, can take some punishment and have great cardio."
Imes and Blair meet in the main event and Imes took the fight on short notice after Boise, ID heavyweight Justin Eilers (18-6-1) was forced to pullout with an injury.
"I don't know much about him, but that he is a wrestler," Imes said. "Obviously, I want to bang it out, but should it go to the ground and I can end it there, too.
"I was scheduled to fight on Nov. 24 in St. Luis, but that was postponed. Justin Eilers and I have the same manager and I was asked about the fight and took it. We are both big name opponents," Imes said.
In the co-main event, Lemoore, CA lightweight Poppies Martinez (12-3) will take on Minnestoa's Aaron Maldonado (4-1).
Martinez is the PFC Interim World Lightweight Champion, but will not have his title on the line.
"I think he is a great fighter and a worthy opponent," Martinez said. "I'm ready to fight and put on a good show."
Maldonado last fought Oroville's Shawn Bias (11-5) for the PFC featherweight title in June, but lost by submission.
"I think people are going to get their moneys worth in this fight," Maldonado said. "We both have a lot of heart. We always train for victory, so taking the fight on short notice isn't a problem.
"We are both from California and in the same area," added Maldonado, who is originally from Visalia, CA. "I know he is a tough fighter that likes to finish like I do."
Also on the Card;
Exeter, CA featherweight Michael Craddock (2-0) vs. Vance North (0-1) of Chisholm, MN.
"I don't know much about my opponent. I heard he wants to bang," Craddock said. "I think he will want to stand and if that doesn't work he will probably run at me wildly and try and clinch. I just want to keep my distance and keep it standing. Where him down a bit and move in and finish it."
Fresno, CA light heavyweight Jimmy Dexter (2-3) vs. Eric Pribble (3-1) of Fargo, ND.
"I don't know anything about him other than he is 3-1 and those wins are because he is tough and can take a beating. He finishes people off because his opponent can't finish and he wears them out. He hasn't fought anyone with the gas tank I have and I wont get tired of beating on him. It's a cliche that there is always a game plan 'til the first punch. I will go with what is open. Probably ground and pound and let him taste some rights and elbows. If he gives me an arm, I'm going to take it.
Minnesota heavyweight Seth Guimont (1-0) vs. Aaron Alvord (1-0) of Menomonie, WI.
Bismark ND welterweight Christopher Hugh (2-1) vs. Russel Dietiene (1-0) of Bozeman, MT.
Indianapolis, IN super heavyweight Chris Galliher (0-0) vs. Zack Thumb (0-0) Fargo, ND.
Bismark, ND middleweight Lucas Sincalair (3-0) vs. Mike Gates (3-1-1) of Montana.
Fight's start at 7 p.m. and doors open at 6.
For more breaking PFC news log on to www.palacefightingchampionship.com.
But first the Sacramento heavyweight will settle for a test at Four Bears Casino in New Town, ND at PFC 5's "Beatdown at 4 Bears" on Saturday.
"It's not the size of the venue that matters," said Imes (9-3), who will take on a tough undefeated Chris Blair (9-0) of Kearney, NE. Both made weight on Friday night, as did the rest of the 8-bout card.
"My first three fights were in the WEC at the Palace in Lemoore. I think that it would be great to get back there," Imes added. "I'm sure a lot of people will remember me."
Imes isn't a fighter that is easily forgotten. He began his mixed martial arts career with a victory over Sacramento's Jeremy Freitag (6-5) at World Extreme Cagefighting 12 in Oct. of 2004. Freitag has moved on a become the PFC World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Imes is also a Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and gained wide-spread acclaim as a runner up on Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter season 2.
"This will be my toughest fight to date," Blair said. "Imes is a world class fighter that's fought top-level fighters.
And Blair is trying to make his way up.
"My game plan is to not get hit, take what he has and give as much back," Blair said. "I'm a strong wrestler, can take some punishment and have great cardio."
Imes and Blair meet in the main event and Imes took the fight on short notice after Boise, ID heavyweight Justin Eilers (18-6-1) was forced to pullout with an injury.
"I don't know much about him, but that he is a wrestler," Imes said. "Obviously, I want to bang it out, but should it go to the ground and I can end it there, too.
"I was scheduled to fight on Nov. 24 in St. Luis, but that was postponed. Justin Eilers and I have the same manager and I was asked about the fight and took it. We are both big name opponents," Imes said.
In the co-main event, Lemoore, CA lightweight Poppies Martinez (12-3) will take on Minnestoa's Aaron Maldonado (4-1).
Martinez is the PFC Interim World Lightweight Champion, but will not have his title on the line.
"I think he is a great fighter and a worthy opponent," Martinez said. "I'm ready to fight and put on a good show."
Maldonado last fought Oroville's Shawn Bias (11-5) for the PFC featherweight title in June, but lost by submission.
"I think people are going to get their moneys worth in this fight," Maldonado said. "We both have a lot of heart. We always train for victory, so taking the fight on short notice isn't a problem.
"We are both from California and in the same area," added Maldonado, who is originally from Visalia, CA. "I know he is a tough fighter that likes to finish like I do."
Also on the Card;
Exeter, CA featherweight Michael Craddock (2-0) vs. Vance North (0-1) of Chisholm, MN.
"I don't know much about my opponent. I heard he wants to bang," Craddock said. "I think he will want to stand and if that doesn't work he will probably run at me wildly and try and clinch. I just want to keep my distance and keep it standing. Where him down a bit and move in and finish it."
Fresno, CA light heavyweight Jimmy Dexter (2-3) vs. Eric Pribble (3-1) of Fargo, ND.
"I don't know anything about him other than he is 3-1 and those wins are because he is tough and can take a beating. He finishes people off because his opponent can't finish and he wears them out. He hasn't fought anyone with the gas tank I have and I wont get tired of beating on him. It's a cliche that there is always a game plan 'til the first punch. I will go with what is open. Probably ground and pound and let him taste some rights and elbows. If he gives me an arm, I'm going to take it.
Minnesota heavyweight Seth Guimont (1-0) vs. Aaron Alvord (1-0) of Menomonie, WI.
Bismark ND welterweight Christopher Hugh (2-1) vs. Russel Dietiene (1-0) of Bozeman, MT.
Indianapolis, IN super heavyweight Chris Galliher (0-0) vs. Zack Thumb (0-0) Fargo, ND.
Bismark, ND middleweight Lucas Sincalair (3-0) vs. Mike Gates (3-1-1) of Montana.
Fight's start at 7 p.m. and doors open at 6.
For more breaking PFC news log on to www.palacefightingchampionship.com.