Manager says he, not fighter Russ Miura, is behind Tachi Palace 9 appeal

Russ Miura's manager says an appeal filed this week was his idea, not his fighter's.

Jason House, who runs Iridium Sports Agency, said the behavior of Isaac DeJesus prompted his firm to contest the results of Miura's TKO loss at Tachi Palace Fights 9, which took place May 8 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

"We had reached the peak of our tolerance for unprofessional conduct," House stated in a release issued Wednesday to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

DeJesus stopped Miura with strikes in the bout's second round. The bout originally was scheduled as a title bout with DeJesus, who was set to defend his featherweight belt. But DeJesus failed to make the 145-pound weight limit required by the California State Athletic Commission, and the bout was changed to a non-title affair.

That's where the problems started, according to House. The manager accused DeJesus of showing up late to weigh-ins, refusing to cut the weight needed to make the featherweight limit, and threatening to pull out of the bout the night before the fight.

With DeJesus' positive test for marijuana, House took it upon himself to have the result of the bout changed to a no-contest and filed an appeal with the CSAC. Per the commission's statutes, the result can be overturned if the winner of a fight tests positive for illicit drugs.

"It is our position that rules are rules, and no fighter deserves special treatment, especially at such a reputable promotion like Tachi Palace," House said. "From the 'no-contest' precedent set by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in the Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi bout in 2007, we felt that it was our professional responsibility to both our client Mr. Miura and MMA fans to pursue this remedy advocating a zero-tolerance policy against banned-substance abuse.

"We believe that absolutely no benefit should be received from a professional that abuses this policy. We appreciate the continued professionalism of everyone involved in the events surrounding this controversy, and leave judgment to the sole discretion of the governing authority, the CSAC."

Tom Call, DeJesus' manager, on Tuesday said his fighter has already paid enough of a price with the suspension and fine.

"He's disappointed and embarrassed," Call said. "He's missed an opportunity to fight at Tachi. He's lost his title. He's missed a couple opportunities in other places. This, to me, is a little bit silly."

Miura's appeal is set for June 20 in Van Nuys, Calif.