No Velasco, but Klarcyk ready for title

LEMOORE, CA — Shawn Klarcyk is excited to be defending the Palace Fighting Championship World Bantamweight belt.

But the Porterville, CA mixed martial artist would prefer to be fighting Oakdale, CA’s Rolando Velasco, who was the champ before vacating the title.

“Of course I want to fight Rolando again. I feel that the first fight was never finished so, to hear that our second scheduled rematch was canceled, I was pretty disappointed. So, whenever Velasco is ready I will be waiting,” Klarcyk (8-2) said. Klarcyk will take on Tulare, CA’s Brandon Miller (3-2) for the strap on September 26 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore for PFC 10’s “Explosive”.

Velasco (5-0-1) defeated Klarcyk by technical knockout in January, but hasn’t been able to come back and defend his title for a variety of reasons.

Meanwhile, Klarcyk pulled off impressive wins against Anthony Garcia and Jason Georgianna for the interim title in May.

“Shawn has proven himself to be one of the most exciting and efficient 135-pound fighters on the West Coast,” PFC President Christian Printup said. “With Rolando it’s just been a mater of bad timing. He has a family reunion this month and that’s something very important to him and I believe that he is starting school at UC Davis and I’ve always known education is his No.1 priority. He’s made it clear he couldn’t compete in September and he knew he was going to vacate the title.”

In steps Miller, who has lost two of his last three fights to David Granados (5-3-1).

“I know that (Brandon) will be standing across the ring from me and he picked a bad time to step in the ring with Shawn Klarcyk,” said Klarcyk. “I’m expecting a very fast TKO in the first round, and I regain my tile.”

Obviously, Miller is expecting a different type of outcome.

“I’ve seen Shawn fight a few times before. I know he’s good on the ground with good cardio. I question his striking ability though,” Miller said. “Well I see this fight definitely going to the end with me getting my hand raised. Whether it goes one round or all five it’s going to be an exciting fight. One the fans aren’t going to forget.”

It should be a fight with a nice contrast of styles, as Klarcyk is widely recognized as one of Central CA’s top grapplers and Miller is primarily known for his kickboxing.

“I think that this is a tough fight for Klarcyk. Miller is tough and scrappy and really has nothing to lose in this fight,” Printup said. “But this is still a fight a champion should win. When it’s all said and done, I think we will learn a lot about both guys.”

Tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino gift shop as well as MMA Elite Apparel shop located at 6640 Blackstone Ave in Fresno.

In the main event, Long Island, NY’s Phil Baroni (12-10) squares off with Enseneda, Mexico’s Olaf Alfonso (7-8).

There will also be two other title fights, as PFC World Lightweight champ Bakersfield, CA’s Brian Cobb (12-4) takes on Las Vegas, NV’s Lance Wipf (8-1) and Bakersfield, CA’s Bryan Travers (10-1) battles Turlock, CA’s Jeremiah Metcalf (9-4) for the vacant PFC World Welterweight title.

In other fights:

—San Luis Obispo, CA bantamweight Antonio Banuelos (14-5) vs. Bryan Goldsby (4-3).

—Georgia flyweight David Mitchell (1-0) vs. Sacramento, CA’s David Suarez (1-1).

—Lemoore, CA welterweight Chris Botelho (4-3) vs. Sacramento, CA’s Anthony Bivins (2-1).

—Lemoore, CA lightweight Poppies Martinez (15-5) vs. Huron, CA’s Sergio Cortez (4-3).

—Sacramento, CA lightweight Dustin Akbari (2-0) vs. Oakdale, CA’s Bill Theofanopoulos (3-0).

—Porterville, CA featherweight Joe Soto (2-0) vs. Stockton, CA’s Brandon Jinnies (3-9).

—Fresno, CA heavyweight Lavar Johnson (8-3) vs. Arizona’s Vince Lucero (19-14).

—Lemoore, CA bantamweight Elvis Franco (1-2-1) vs. Exeter, CA’s Mike Craddock (2-2).

—Lemoore, CA welterweight Joey Cabezas (2-0) vs. Taft, CA’s Billy Terry (3-8).

—Paris, France middleweight Xavier Foupa-Pokam (17-9) vs. Sacramento, CA’s Derek Thornton (4-10).

—Hanford, CA featherweight Chad Mendes (0-0) vs. Chico, CA’s Giovanni Encarnacion (0-1).

—Hanford, CA flyweight Luis Gonzales (2-0) vs. Oakland, CA’s Elbert Randle (0-1).

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