Tachi Palace Fights is closing up shop

RIP. As a regional org, they deserve a lot of credit for helping establish some 125 fighters and putting the division on the radar. Hopefully the decision is disputed.

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

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.

2007-2012

Damn that sucks, they had some great shows. Last show was pretty sick.

Yeah, saw a lot of big name fighters at Tachi Palace the past 10 years, but tribal councils + casinos = shady business all around. It's a shame.