By Press Release

SELMA, Calif. – The ladies will take center stage once again for 559 Fights.

Two of the hottest women’s prospects, Bakersfield strawweight Kat Solorzano and Irvine’s Meggan Tamondong will compete for the 559 Fights 115-pound amateur mixed martial arts title on Friday, April 19th at the Visalia Convention Center.
Doors open for the 14-bout event at 6:00 p.m. with the first fight kicking off at 7.

“Women’s MMA has been a big part of our business model at 559 Fights. Our first event in 2012 featured a women’s main event when Brianna VanBuren fought Kristen Gatz,” 559 Fights owner Jeremy Luchau said. “I feel like we’ve been an equal opportunity promotion across the board and want to give all athletes, male or female, young and old, opportunities to compete and headline our events.”

Solorzano comes into the contest with a 5-3 record and is 2-2 in her last four bouts after taking a four-year layoff.

“Kat is someone who has been in the game since 2013 and made her debut for us at 559 Fights 9 I believe. She fought UFC vet Cynthia Calvillo in an amateur fight, and she’s fought from 135 all the way down to 115,” Luchau said. “She continues to get better and better and is deserving of the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Solorzano’s opponent is nine years younger, and with fewer MMA bouts. Tamondong is a Colin Oyama prospect and comes into the bout with a 2-0 record, but is 6-3 in kickboxing.

“Meggan is one of coach Oyama’s young stars. She is a lot of fun to watch compete and both these girls are ranked in the state and should be an exciting fight,” Luchau added.

Tickets start at just $25 and can be purchased at the Visalia Convention Center box office or online at www.559fights.com

In the co-main event, Visalia lightweight Mark Hernandez puts his undefeated record on the line against another Team Oyama product Xavier Moreno.

“Hernandez and Moreno were both training for this card against other opponents, but unfortunately those fighters had to withdraw for different reasons,” Luchau said. “Hernandez and Moreno both opted to stay on the card and face each other and it is shaping up to be a good co-main event.”

In other bouts, Tulare lightweight Josh Velchansky makes his debut against Bakersfield’s Vincent Gomez (2-0), Merced middleweight Jaime Llamas-Trevino (1-0) takes on Ridgecrest’s Trevor Boswell (0-0), San Jose bantamweight Cody Scharmer (2-1) fights Ridgecrest’s Donaven Sharp (1-4), Bakersfield flyweight Austin Burns (1-0) meets Santa Barbara’s Beau Brooks (4-5), Tehachapi featherweight Chase Harvey (1-0) takes on Ridgecrest’s Siosifa Talakai (0-0), Bakersfield featherweight Sal Bruno (1-1-2) fights Oxnard’s Dennis Ramirez (3-4- 1), Fresno heavyweight Larry Gonzales makes his debut against Ridgecrest’s Theatris Eaton (0-0) and Madera light heavyweight Eduardo Mercardo makes his debut against Ruben Hernandez (0-0).

Additionally, the card will feature four grappling superfights; Parlier’s Natalia Diaz vs. Fresno’s Julia Alonso, Parlier’s Noah Collazo vs. Bakersfield’s Matt Reed, Exeter’s Jose Hernandez vs. Merced’s Caleb Morgan and Fresno’s Bernardino Cruz vs. Bakersfield’s Christopher DeLeon.