LEMOORE -- Mike Martinez wasn't planning on fighting on Thursday.

The former Kings Christian High football star was actually planning on attending the Palace Fighting Championship 7 mixed martial arts show at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino and having a little fun.

Instead the 23-year-old will battle Merced's Phil Collins (5-3) in a PFC middleweight title eliminator after Newport Beach's Just Levens (9-8) was forced out of the bout with an injured hand.

"I'm excited to be fighting for the No. 1 contender spot, and a shot at the 185-pound title. We currently have a great champion in [Lemoore's] Kenny Ento and it would be an honor to step in the ring with a guy like him. First things first, though, Phil Collins is on my radar for now," said Martinez, who is currently 3-1 in MMA competition.

Martinez recently fought on Feb. 29 in Visalia, beating Visalia's Eli Moreno by triangle choke in just one minute, 59 seconds of the first round.

"I train with the well-known and respected Team Ochoa in Lemoore. We train how we fight. I'm also up in Fresno at LA boxing with Cole Escovedo. I see myself as more of a counter fighter, I like to sit back and wait for my opponents to come at me and I capitalize on their mistakes," said Martinez, who will be one of the featured attractions on a 12-bout card.

Doors open for Thursday's fights at 5:30 p.m. and fights are slated to get under way at 6:30.

Also on the card is a pair of PFC World Title fights, as light heavyweight champ Jeromy Freitag (6-5) of Sacramento will defend his title for the first time against Brazil's Jorge Oliveira (2-2-1); and Arizona's Richie Hightower (7-2) takes on Bakersfield's Bryan Travers (9-1) for the vacant welterweight crown.

"I fought on one card with [Martinez] and didn't pay too much attention. I saw him win at Pure Combat in Visalia and he looks tough and big. I only see this fight going one way, though, a win for me," Collins said. "I'm sure he'll fight tough, but I think my experience will prevail. Short notice fights don't matter. I used to fight for Gladiator where that happens a lot, so I train to fight and fight is what I will do."

The winner of the bout between Martinez and Collins could get a shot at Ento, who beat Levens for the title in October. Ento is scheduled for two fights before Martinez/Collins will fight for the PFC World Middleweight Title in September.

"I see the fight being one with primarily big punches if we stand. If it ends up on the ground it should be interesting. I think we match up evenly in all aspects of the fight game," Martinez said. "I have been sitting around eating bon bons the last two and a half weeks preparing my teammates for their fights. I found out about the opportunity on Saturday and realized guys wait their whole careers for their shot at a title. I have only been fighting one year and I couldn't pass this up. This may never come again. It's a win-win situation for me. If I lose, big deal, Mike takes the fight with five days to prepare with a good experienced fighter. If I win, wow Mike is for real and has a great shot at keeping that belt in Lemoore, where it belongs. As far as being a replacement, no big deal. In my own head I feel like I deserve it."

Weighins are scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Den Sports Bar on the third floor of the Palace.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277.

In other bouts;

--Fresno featherweight Jorge Evangelsita (5-2-1) vs. to Oregon's Enoch Wilson (10-4-1).

--Arroyo Grande light heavyweight Glover Teixeira (5-2) vs. San Diego's Buckley Acosta (4-4).

--Tulare heavyweight Carlton Jones (1-3) vs. Visalia's Rafael Del Real (4-8).

--Turlock middleweight Jeremiah Metcalf (6-4) vs. Fresno's Jimmy Dexter (2-4).

--Las Vegas flyweight Ulysses Gomez (0-0) vs. Cambria's Greg McDowell (0-0).

--Tulare flyweight Daniel Pinedo (1-1) vs. Georgia's David Mitchell (1-0).

--Sacramento lightweight Danny Castillo (3-0) vs. Merced's Andy Salazar (0-2).

--Wasco heavyweight Manuel Quezada (0-0) vs. TBA.

--Bakersfield featherweight Robert Breslin (3-7-1) vs. Stockton's Brandon Jinnies (2-7).

(March 18, 2008)