LEMOORE, Calif. — “Tachi Palace Fights 14: Validation” is scheduled to take place Friday, Sept. 7, at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Calif. The promotion that has helped produce some of the UFC’s top lighter weight talent returns next month with two Championship bouts.

In the main event, Fresno’s Casey Olson will battle it out with Portland, Oregon’s Ian Loveland for the Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight Title. And in the co-main event, Georgi Karakhanyan of Riverside, Calif., will square off against Micah Miller of Atlanta for the Tachi Palace Featherweight Title.

TPF 135 Title — Casey Olson vs. Ian Loveland

Olson (14-3), a WEC and Strikeforce veteran, is riding a three-fight win streak with his last two victories coming via unanimous decision against Shawn Klarcyk at TPF 4 and Cody Gibson at TPF 12. Olson is one of the area’s most popular fighters.

Armed with a strong wrestling background and training under the tutelage of John Hackleman at The Pit, another win here could put Olson very close to getting the call up to the big show.

Olson will be facing a fighter who has already been to the big show and is fighting to make his way back. An IFL veteran, Ian Loveland (15-9) made his UFC debut at featherweight on short notice against Tyler Toner at the TUF 12 Finale in December 2010. Loveland won all three rounds to take home the unanimous decision victory.

Loveland then dropped to bantamweight where he took on the very tough Joseph Benavidez at UFC 128 in March of last year. Loveland lost via unanimous decision. He fought once more in the UFC last August, dropping a split decision to Yves Jabouin at UFC 134 and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Loveland then signed on with Tachi Palace Fights and got an immediate bantamweight title shot against Alexander Crispin (7-4) at TPF 13 back in May. Four-minutes-and-twenty-three-seconds into the first round Loveland knocked Crispin unconscious with a knee to win the Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight Title.

TPF 145 Title — Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Micah Miller

Georgi Karakhanyan (18-3-1) is a Bellator veteran who won the Tachi Palace Featherweight Title last December at TPF 11 by defeating Isaac DeJesus via Triangle Choke submission in the first round.

He has fought once since then, defeating Aaron Mobley via knockout at Gladiator Challenge in April. Karakhanyan has finished his last four opponents inside the first round; three via submission, one by knockout.

Micah Miller (17-4, 1 NC), younger brother of longtime UFC vet Cole Miller, is riding a three-fight win streak, however, he has not fought since 2010. Miller’s last two fights were under the Tachi Palace banner where he won a unanimous decision over Diego Saraiva at TPF 6 and scored a submission via neck crank stoppage of Isaac DeJesus at TPF 7.

The door to the UFC was opened for Miller last year when he was selected for The Ultimate Fighter season 14. However, that door quickly shut when he lost his preliminary bout to get in the house to Steven Siler via third round submission. Incidentally, Siler is currently 3-0 in the UFC.

The complete Tachi Palace Fights 14 card currently looks like this:

  • (135 Title) Fresno’s Casey Olson vs. Portland’s Ian Loveland
  • (145 Title) Riverside’s Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Atlanta’s Micah Miller
  • Lemoore’s Poppies Martinez vs. Porterville’s Jason Drake
  • Oakdale’s Brad McDonald vs. Dos Palos’s Art Arciniega
  • Sacramento’s Andre Fili vs. Irvine’s Chris Saunders
  • Oakdale’s Rolando Velasco vs. Rancho Cucamonga’s Brandon Bender
  • Fresno’s George Interiano vs. Tulare’s Steve Ramirez
  • Lemoore’s Sergio Quinones vs. Lemoore’s Anthony Avila
  • Oakdale’s Angel Deanda vs. Sacramento’s Drew Montgomery
  • Las Vegas’ David Bollea vs. Lemoore’s Zeth Martin
  • Fresno’s Kristen Gatz vs. Canada’s Jessica Rakoczy

Fight card subject to change without notice.

Tickets start at $35 and are on sell now. For more information on tickets visit www.tachipalace.com.

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