Author: John Morgan [kingofabuelos]

Just like any mixed martial artist, Strikeforce, Sengoku and K-1 Hero’s
veteran Nam Phan (15-6) fights for titles, win bonuses and pride.

But the longtime Southern California resident and eight-and-a-half year
pro, who fights for a title at tonight’s Tachi Palace Fights event, also has another goal in mind when he steps into the cage.

“When I fight, I try to be a role model with the young Asian-Americans
around here,” Phan recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio. “When I was brought up, there was no
Asian-American role model. There was no one to look up to.”

Prior to fast-rising female prospect Zoila Frausto’s (4-0) Showtime
appearance at this past November’s “Strikeforce Challengers IV” event,
not many people outside of the California fight scene had heard of the
“Warrior Princess.”

But with a rapid-fire barrage of powerful kicks and an excellent
display of Muay Thai in her win over Elisha Helsper, Frausto left many
fans across the country clamoring for more.

But for those who can’t wait to see more of the same, Frausto recently
told MMAjunkie.com Radio they can forget
about it. She plans on looking better.

UFC welterweight contender Mike Swick (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has been here before.

After suffering a disappointing loss in his most recent appearance, the
Houston native knows what it takes to dust himself off, put the past
behind, and leave it all in the cage while looking to start another
impressive win streak.

And as Swick recently told MMAjunkie.com for The
Dallas Morning News, his UFC 109 main-card bout with Paulo Thiago (12-1 MMA, 2-1
UFC) this Saturday in Las Vegas is the perfect time to prove his
character to the world.

An intriguing light heavyweight matchup between perennial fan favorite Forrest
Griffin (17-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and recent Brazilian import Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira (18-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is still happening in May, but both
fighters have a few extra weeks to get ready.

MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to Griffin that the
contest, which was originally believed to be taking place at UFC 113 in
Montreal on May 8, is actually targeted for UFC 114 in Las Vegas on May
29.

Bout agreements for the matchup, which is likely for a co-main event slot, are expected to be finalized shortly.

LEMOORE, Calif. – MMAjunkie.com was on scene for
today’s “Tachi Palace Fights 3: Champions Collide” official fighter
weigh-ins in Lemoore, Calif.

Today’s weigh-in ceremonies took place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and
Casino, the same site as Thursday night’s GoFightLive.com-broadcast
fight card.

Main-event competitors Jeff Bedard and Cole Escovedo, who will compete
for Tachi Palace Fights’ first-ever bantamweight title, made their bout
official, while big-show veterans Nam Phan, Gabe Ruediger, Anthony Ruiz
and Manny Tapia all hit the mark for their respective contests, as well.

LEMOORE, Calif. – MMAjunkie.com was on scene for
today’s “Tachi Palace Fights 3: Champions Collide” official fighter
weigh-ins in Lemoore, Calif.

Today’s weigh-in ceremonies took place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and
Casino, the same site as Thursday night’s GoFightLive.com-broadcast
fight card.

Main-event competitors Jeff Bedard and Cole Escovedo, who will compete
for Tachi Palace Fights’ first-ever bantamweight title, made their bout
official, while big-show veterans Nam Phan, Gabe Ruediger, Anthony Ruiz
and Manny Tapia all hit the mark for their respective contests, as well.