VISALIA – The latest card for Fresno-based 559 Fights Mixed Martial Arts organization will be headlined by a state lightweight championship matchup.
559 Fights 101 — featuring 16 bouts involving predominantly Central Valley-based fighters — will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Visalia Convention Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., with first fights scheduled for 7 p.m.
Topping the card is a double championship lightweight bout between unbeaten Blake DeCourcy (6-0) of Fountain Valley and Ramon Cornejo (8-1) from Tracy. Both the 559 Fights and CAMO (California Amateur) titles will be on the line. Both fighters posted victories at the 559 Fights 99 program on July 29 at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia.
Also featured on the card are a number of Tulare County fighters as well as two featherweight fighters from Reedley in preliminary bouts. Anthony Romero (1-0) will face Porterville’s James Albanez (1-0) while Rene Cortes (0-1) takes on German Taboada (0-1) from Arvin.
Three Visalia fighters also will be in action. Mark Hernandez (3-4-1) faces Chris Paez (3-2) of Clovis in a featherweight bout; Tyler Saelee (2-0-1) takes on Fresno’s Michael Ramirez (2-3) and Dorian Hale (3-2) battles Sacramento’s Saifulla Dashlakaev (3-2) in lightweight matchups.
Also, Porterville’s Brian Benevidez (5-3-1) will fight Morgan Hill’s Javie Torres (5-2) in a flyweight bout. Another flyweight matchup pits Tulare’s JJ Madrid (3-6) against Madera’s Paul Furr (2-2). A variety of matchups will feature fighters from Fresno, Hanford, Madera and Bakersfield.
The main event and other primary preliminary bouts will be televised live on MyTV 53 beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets are priced starting at $40 for general admission and $120 for ringside seats. For ticket information, call 559-813-0307 or go online to 559Fights.com.
