(PRESS RELEASE) -- Thursday, April 23 the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. will showcase another hybrid boxing and mixed martial arts card.

The hybrid card has become a staple of Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Director Christian Printup’s blueprint for success in both sports.

“I do believe that hybrid cards are going to be a staple of combat sports for years to come. Each style compliments the other. Beyond that, we are helping cross lines in terms of who’s a boxing fan and who’s an MMA fan,” Printup said.

“I think both sports will continue to do well on their own in perpetuity, but hybrid cards are going to be a fixture in the PFC and I’m sure more promotions will follow suit. Especially in this economy our goal is to give the fans as much value for their entertainment dollar and by combining boxing and PFC Mixed Martial Arts, we’re doing that and the response is tremendous.”

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

Hanford, Calif. featherweight Chad Mendes (2-0) will battle Fresno, Calif.’s Art Arciniega (7-3) in the main event of the MMA portion of the card that also features a highly anticipated featherweight bout between Beaverton, Ore.’s Enoch Wilson (11-4-1) and Oroville, Calif.’s Shawn Bias (13-7).

“I’m excited for this card. The Chad Mendes and Art Arciniega fight alone is worth the price of admission in my opinion,” Printup said.

The night will kickoff with championship boxing, as WBC Caribbean Heavyweight champ Manuel Quezada of Wasco, Calif. puts his 26-4 record on the line against Omaha, Nebr.’s Jeff Brownfield (9-7).

Also, one of the women’s top pound-for-pound fighters in the world returns to action, as Las Vegas, Nev.’s Jessica Rakoczy (29-3) fights for the first time in over a year against New York, N.Y.’s Belinda Laracuente (23-24-3).

A pair of 2008 US Olympians will also be featured on the card, as Hanford, Calif.’s Shawn Estrada (2-0) makes his highly anticipated Palace debut in a supper middleweight bout against Bismark, N.D.’s Nick Runningbear (3-1) and Javier Molina also makes his debut at super middleweight against an opponent to be announced.

Visalia, Calif.’s Aaron Alafa (2-0) will return to action in the bantamweight class against Bakersfield, Calif.’s Ephraim Martinez (1-0) and the always exciting Bakersfield, Calif. junior welterweight Michael Dallas Jr. (7-0-1) will fight Amarillo, Tex.’s Marcus Brashears (6-11-1).

On the under card of the MMA portion of the night; Los Angeles, Calif. welterweight Kengo Ura (5-4) battles Taft, Calif.’s Doug Hunt (4-2); Lemoore, Calif.’s Sergio Quinones (3-4) meets rival Huron, Calif.’s Sergio Cortes; and in a women’s MMA special feature undefeated knock out artist Sarah Kaufman of Victoria, Canada will take Kansa City, Mo.’s Sarah Schnieder (4-2).

Doors open on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and fights start at 6. On Wednesday, fans are encouraged to come out to the Palace and attend the official weighins, which take place on the third floor at The Den Sports Bar. Weighins are slated to begin at 4 p.m.

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