(PRESS RELEASE) -- Porterville, Calif.’s Shawn Klarcyk has done what most Palace Fighting Championship belt holders have been unable to do – defend his belt.

And on Thursday, January 22 the exciting bantamweight will try to do it for a second time when he takes on World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Jeff Bedard (9-2).

“He’s a very decorated national wrestler, a WEC veteran, trains and fights full time and comes from a good team,” Klarcyk said of the Deluth, Ga. native. “I’m super pumped to get the opportunity to fight him.”

The Klarcyk vs. Bedard battle will be one of five PFC title fights at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. in a card that will be streamed live on Sherdog.com.

“People can expect a very explosive, fast-paced fight,” said Klarcyk (9-2), who last defended his belt in September with a submission victory over Tulare, Calif.’s Brandon Miller. “This could possibly be fight of the night.”

Bedard will be Klarcyk’s toughest fight to date. He started his career with nine straight wins including a victory over Mike French (6-9) in the WEC in June of 2007. But three months later was submitted by the World’s No. 1 ranked Bantamweight Miguel Torres (35-1).

Bedard then lost by technical knockout to Jarrod Card in March.

“I know that (Klarcyk) likes ankle locks and is a wrestler, that’s about it,” Bedard said. “I train for everything and I will look to finish where ever the fight goes. It will be a lot of action and I plan on capitalizing on his over aggressiveness.”

The fight is slated for five, 3-minute rounds.

“I haven’t ever fought 3-minute rounds and it should be fun,” Bedard said. “I have always trained for 5-mnute rounds and conditioning shouldn’t be a factor for anyone that is used to 5-minute rounds.”

Klarcyk was originally scheduled to fight Masahiro Oishi (19-11-7), but the Japanese star was injured in his last fight and could not compete.

“I think this will turn out to be a better fight for me. Bedard has fought some big-name fighters like Torres and (Antonio) Banuelos. Fighting either Bedard or Oishi was going to be a tough challenge for me,” Klarcyk said. “I always work on everything, but chances are with both of us having wrestling backgrounds that the fight will end up going to the ground, so I’ve been working my wrestling a little more.”

The PFC will crown its first World Flyweight champion when Thailand’s Rambaa Somdet (6-2) takes on Scottsdale, Ariz.’s Pat Runez (5-0).

Fresno, Calif.’s Jorge Evangelista (8-2-1) defends his PFC Featherweight title against Atlanta, Ga.’s Diego Saraiva (12-8-1); Bakersfield, Calif.’s Brian Cobb (14-4) defends his PFC Lightweight belt against Las Vegas, Nev.’s Lance Wipf (8-1); and Ensenada, Mexico’s Olaf Alfonso (7-9) and Turlock, Calif.’s Jeremiah Metcalf (10-6) battle for the PFC Interim Welterweight championship.

In other bouts:

-La Celle St. Clous, France light heavyweight Cyrille Diabate (12-6-1) vs. North Hollywood, Calif.’s Lodune Sincaid (14-6).

-Paris, France middleweight Xavier Foupa-Pokam (19-9) vs. Utah’s Kasey Uscula (15-12).

-Fresno, Calif. heavyweight Lavar Johnson (10-3) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Dave Huckaba (9-2).

-Fresno, Calif. lightweight Billy Evangelista (8-0) vs. Honolulu, Hawaii’s Harris Sarmiento (25-18).

-Las Vegas, Nev. lightweight Evan Dunham (6-0) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Dustin Akbari (3-0).

-Houston, Tex. lightweight John Gunderson (16-6) vs. Oakland, Calif.’s Alexander Crispim (3-2).

-Sacramento, Calif. featherweight Tito Jones (5-2) vs. Oakdale, Calif.’s Justin Smitley (5-2).

-Eugene, Ore. bantamweight Jason Georgianna (8-3) vs. Oakdale, Calif.’s Michael McDonald (6-0).

-Lemoore, Calif. lightweight Joey Cabezas (3-0) vs. Exeter, Calif.’s Joe Morales (3-0).

-Harrisburg, Pa. light heavyweight Phil Davis (1-0) vs. Visalia, Calif.’s Josh Green (0-0).

Tickets go on sale on December 6 and can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino gift shop.

For breaking PFC news go to www.palacefightingchampionship.com. You can also find other PFC and Palace information at http://www.tachipalace.com.