LEMOORE, Calif. — As if the announcement this week of a pivotal Palace Fighting Championship flyweight showdown between Las Vegas, Nev. grappler Ulysses Gomez and Thailand superstar Rambaa Somdet wasn’t enough.

President Christian Printup decided to take the PFC to another level on Thursday, announcing the signing of former World Extreme Cagefighting Light Heavyweight champion Doug Marshall.
The Visalia, Calif. mixed martial artist has made the move down to middleweight and will face Central Valley rival Rafael Del Real on November 20 at PFC 11.

“This is a fight that has been a long time in the making. Regardless of what either guy will say I don’t think they’ve ever cared for each other. There could be some jealousy. There could be some envy. There could be a lot of things,” Printup said. “But I can guarantee that there will be a lot of heated exchanges in the ring during this bout. I don’t see either man wanting this fight to go to the score cards, this is the ultimate bragging rights fight for Central California and I know both men will be looking for the KO.”

Marshall (8-3) made his PFC debut in June with a technical knockout victory over Merced’s Phil Collins (6-4). He’s been a staple of the WEC and known as one of the more energetic fighters from Central California. He’s put on some epic battles in both Las Vegas and Lemoore.

“I know what I’m getting into, Doug’s a great fighter but I have the key to beating him. I’ve seen all of his fights. I wanted to fight him back in the day, but it got put on hold or whatever,” said Del Real a Tulare, Calif. native. “He can’t withstand my punching power at middleweight. His chin is suspect ever since he moved down from heavyweight. My career has had it’s ups and downs and I took a lot of fights I probably shouldn’t have, but I guarantee in this one I’m going to hit him hard and often and he’s not going to know what happened until the doctors wake him up.”

Del real (5-10) has lost four of his last five fights, but has been a big draw locally.

“Well, I was going to fight Rafael as a heavyweight and he backed out. Now at 185 he thinks he has a chance? That’s a joke. It doesn’t matter what weight we meet at the Rhino is going to bring the fight like he always does. I’ll be the one serving up a KD (knocked dead).”

Tickets for PFC 11 start at $40 and are available now at all tickets.com outlets, charge by phone by calling 1-800-225-2277, in person at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino gift shop or in Fresno at MMA Elite Apparel at 6640 North Blackstone Ave.

Printup also recently confirmed some upcoming rumored bouts on cards through February.
On October 23, the PFC will feature four bouts on a night of World Championship boxing at the Palace. In the main event, Lemoore, Calif. light heavyweight Mike Martinez (3-2) takes on city rival Brandon Lorenz (1-0). Also featured on the card is a featherweight showdown between PFC champ Jorge Evangelista (7-2-1) of Fresno, Calif. and Las Vegas, Nev.’s David Smith (4-1) in a non-title fight.
In prelims, Oakland, Calif. featherweight Jimmy Jarquin (2-2) vs. TBA and Visalia, Calif. heavyweight Rocky Molina (1-2) takes on Madera, Calif.’s Joaquin Sanchez (3-1).

The next PFC show is sure to bring some drama, as a few fights have been confirmed by Printup that have major title implications.

Most notably is a rematch for the PFC World Light Heavyweight title between Brazil’s Jorge Oliveira (3-2-1) and St. Paul, Min.’s Isaiah Larson (6-1). The pair fought to a no-contest at PFC 9 in June.
Making his PFC debut will be Las Vegas, Nev. featherweight Eddie Yagin (11-3-1) against Oroville, Calif.’s Shawn Bias (13-6) and UFC veteran Gabe Ruediger (11-5) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. is set to take on Fairbanks, Alaska’s Scott McAfee (5-1).

In a match that will get some international interest, Oakland, Calif. lightweight Dominique Robinson (13-2-1) takes on Japan’s Takumi Nakayama (13-11-4).

Hanford, Calif. featherweight Chad Mendes (1-0) is expected to be in action in both November and February. Mendes, who was a runner up at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 2008, is considered by many to be one of the PFC’s most coveted prospects.

On January 22 the Palace will host PFC 12. PFC Lightweight champ Brian Cobb (13-4) of Bakersfield, Calif. will take on Ensenada, Mexico’s Olaf Alfonso (7-9) for the belt.

Also rumored to be on the card are brothers Jorge and Billy Evangelista (7-0) of Fresno, Calif. PFC Welterweight champ Bryan Travers (11-1) of Bakersfield, Calif. will also be in action.