· Harris Ready For Ruiz Heading Into Tachi Palace Fights 9

Press Release:

Lemoore, Calif. – Anthony Ruiz expects to be taken down.

In fact, the Coarsegold, Calif. mixed martial arts veteran admits he will probably be taken down on more than one occasion.

“He will get his takedowns like everyone else has that’s fought me and wanted to go to the ground,” said Ruiz of his opponent Tulsa, Okla.’s Gerald Harris.

“But like everyone else, he will blow is wad and get tired doing so.”

The game plan is pretty cut and dry in each and every one of Ruiz’ 40 fights… weather the early storm and take his opponents into deep waters.

“I will be in better shape than he is and I will be the one pushing the pace in the fight, especially in the late rounds,” Ruiz said of his middleweight feature bout at Tachi Palace Fights 9’s “The Contenders” on Friday, May 6th at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

“Hopefully he has worked on his cardio some and wants to bang a little, so we can make this an exciting fight for the crowd and not a boring one.”

Ruiz (25-15) is coming off back-to-back losses to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts and hopes the Harris showdown can elevate him back into the middleweight elite class at Tachi Palace Fights.

“We’re both coming off of some losses, but I honestly feel all the pressure is really on him,” Ruiz said. “He has to win this fight.”

Tachi Palace Fights will stream live and free on Sherdog.com at 5:30 p.m. (PST).

Tickets can be purchased at www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30 for general admission seating.

Harris (17-4) was once thought of as one of the more exciting fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship until a lackluster decision loss against Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves (26-3) led to his walking papers.

Harris followed with a loss to James Head (7-1) in February.

“Ruiz is a veteran and a very game opponent. I’m looking at this fight like any other and I’m facing tough competition. He is well respected in MMA, fought everybody and I’m going to have to bring my ‘A-game’,” Harris said.

“You do something a little different for every fight, but I can’t give up too much of my game plan,” Harris added. “It’s that classic striker versus wrestler type of match up.”

It will be Harris’ first trip to California to compete.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about Tachi Palace and not just from the MMA guys but from boxers, too. I’m looking forward to going out there to fight,” Harris said.

The main event features a flyweight bout between San Clemente, Calif.’s Ian McCall (9-2) and Franklin, Tenn.’s Dustin Ortiz (7-0). McCall is coming off a decision victory over the previously ranked No. 1 flyweight in the world, Brazil’s Jussier da Silva (9-1) which moved him into the Top 10 rankings at No. 3.

Meanwhile, Ortiz is a Strikeforce veteran and a proven finisher, winning all of his bouts by stoppage.

San Diego, Calif. lightweight Fabricio Camoes (11-5-1) makes his return to Lemoore after his TKO victory over Las Vegas, Nev.’s Steve Lopez (12-4) in February to face Tempe, Ariz.’s Efrain Escudero (16-2) in the co-main event. Like Camoes, Escudero is a UFC veteran and is riding a 2-fight win streak.

The lone title fight on the 13-bout card, features Stockton, Calif. featherweight Isaac DeJesus (9-3) against Fresno, Calif.’s Russ Miura (9-1). The current champ, DeJesus, has lost two straight non-title affairs since winning the belt in February of 2010 with a TKO of Garden Grove, Calif.’s Nam Phan (16-8).

World’s No. 2 ranked Flyweight Mamoru Yamaguchi (25-5-3) brings his exciting style to the US and will take on San Diego, Calif.’s Kevin Dunsmoor (10-3).

"Tachi Palace Fights 9: The Contenders" Full Card:

flyweight - Ian McCall (9-2) vs. Dustin Ortiz (7-0)
middleweight - Anthony Ruiz (25-15) vs. Gerald Harris (17-4)
lightweight - Fabricio Camoes (11-5-1) vs. Efrain Escudero (16-2)
flyweight - Mamoru Yamaguchi (25-5-3) vs. Kevin Dunsmoor (10-3)
featherweight Isaac DeJesus (9-3) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Russ Miura (9-1)
welterweight - Jorge Lopez (8-1) vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf (8-7-1)
TBD - Tommy Vargas (7-1) vs. TBA
welterweight - Alan Jouban (1-0) vs. Chidi Njokuani (4-2)
featherweight - Art Arciniega (9-4) vs. Joshua Herrick (6-2)
bantamweight - Cody Gibson (4-1) vs. Walel Watson (7-1)
featherweight - Jesse Bowen (7-5) vs. Oakdale, Calif.’s Brad McDonald (5-1)
welterweight - Kenny Ento (10-5) vs.James Chaney (3-0)
bantamweight - Alex Perez (0-0) vs. Jesus Castro (0-10)