(PRESS RELEASE) -- Last month’s Palace Fighting Championship 11 “All In” was just the beginning of a new tenacious approach to matchmaking.

On January 22 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, PFC President Christian Printup will put together one of the deepest fight cards to date in Central California.

“January’s card is shaping up to be, and I always say this, better than the last one. Maybe at this point it’s cliché. January will blow the roof off. We have five championship fights and that right there is price of admission,” Printup said. “We have some heavyweights and new talent plus our veterans. This is a big show for us and a big show for the fighters. This is high stakes with a lot of fighters that are in a must win situation.”

The PFC will feature five PFC World Championship bouts, including the highly anticipated conclusion of the 4-man flyweight tournament.

Thailand’s Rambaa Somdet (6-2) has cemented himself at the top of the flyweight class with a decision victory over Las Vegas, Nev.’s Ulysses Gomez (2-1) in the semifinals on November 20.

Somdet advanced to face Scottsdale, Ariz.’s Pat Runez (5-0), who defeated Hanford, Calif.’s Luis Gonzales (3-1).

The winner of Somdet/Runez will be crowned the first flyweight champion in the PFC and mark a new era in MMA in the U.S.

Lightweight champion Brian Cobb of Bakersfield, Calif. will defend his title against Las Vegas, Nev.’s Lance Wipf (8-1).

Cobb (14-4) has won eight straight bouts and is defending PFC gold for the second time. Meanwhile, Wipf should be the toughest challenger yet and carries a 6-fight win streak into the bout.

Newly crowned Welterweight Champion Bryan Travers of Bakersfield, Calif. is slated to defend his belt for the first time. Travers (11-1) will tangle with an up-and-coming star from Parlier, Calif. Mike Moreno (4-2) out of Team Buhawe in Fresno, Calif. Travers has won four straight bouts and most recently defeated Turlock, Calif.’s Jeremiah Metcalf (10-6) in September.

In one of the most intriguing PFC bouts to date, Bantamweight Champion Shawn Klarcyk of Porterville, Calif. squares off with Tokyo, Japan’s Masahiro Oishi (19-10-7).

This will be Klarcyk’s toughest test in his young career. Klaryck (9-2) successfully defended his title against Tulare, Calif.’s Brandon Miller (3-3) in September. He is the first 2-time champion in the PFC

Oishi is a Japanese star that has fought in some of the toughest promotions in the world. He’s currently on a 5-fight win streak.

Local favorite and PFC Featherweight Champion Jorge Evangelista (8-2-1) will defend his belt for the first time against former PFC Lightweight Champion Diego Saraiva of Atlanta, Ga.

Saraiva is a UFC veteran and carries a 12-8-1 record.

PFC 12 will also be the launch pad for the debut of Cyrille Diabate (12-6-1) of Le Celle St. Clous, France. The 6-foot-6 former Elite XC star is slated to take on Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Lodune Sincaid (13-6) in a light heavyweight bout.

Diabate’s teammate and fellow countryman Xavier Foupa-Pokam (18-9) will also be back in PFC action and will take on a tough Kasey Uscula (15-12) of Utah.

PFC 12 will also begin to shed some light on the heavyweight division and the vacant title picture.

Fresno, Calif.’s Lavar Johnson (10-3) is considered the current No. 1 contender for the belt and will take on Sacramento, Calif.’s Dave Huckaba (8-2).

Printup is also excited to bring back Fresno, Calif.’s Billy Evangelista to the Palace. Evangelista (8-0) got his start at the Palace in the pre-zuffa WEC and has been allowed to fight back home by Strikeforce.

“It’s special to have Billy and Jorge to be able to compete on the same card. It’s something that they and I have always wanted to do,” Printup said. “I’d like to thank Scott Coker and Bob Cook for allowing us to work together to make the Evangelista brothers dream come to fruition.”

Evangelista’s opponent has yet to be announced.

Lightweight prospect John Gunderson (16-6) of Houston Texas will take on Oakland, Calif.’s Alexander Crispim (3-2) and in a pivotal bantamweight bout Beaverton, Ore.’s Enoch Wilson (11-4-1) is slated to face Oakland, Calif.’s Jimmy Jarquin (2-1).

Ensenada, Mexico’s Olaf Alfonso (7-9) will return for the first time after his decision loss to UFC and Pride veteran Phil Baroni (13-10). Alfonso will take on Turlock, Calif. welterweight Jeremiah Metcalf (10-6).

Also in action, Sacramento, Calif. lightweight Dustin Akbari (3-0) takes on Oregon’s Evan Dunham (8-0); Sacramento, Calif. featherweight Tito Jones (5-2) takes on Oakdale, Calif.'s Justin Smitley (5-2); Eugene, Ore. bantamweight Jason Georgianna (8-3) fights Oakdale, Calif.’s Michael McDonald (6-0); Lemoore, Calif.’s Joey Cabezas (3-0) will face Visalia, Calif.’s Marc De La Cruz (3-2); Williamston, Mich. flyweight Alexis Vila (3-0) takes on Sioux Falls, S.D.’s Ben Nguyen (10-2); and Harrisburg, Pa.’s Phil Davis fights 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.