LEMOORE, CA — The Palace Fighting Championship’s middleweight division has been in shook up in recent weeks, as new champion Santa Rosa’s Nate Loughran (8-0) is headed to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

But the PFC has also added some tough middleweights, such as North Highland’s Jaime Jara (18-5) and Brazil’s Leopoldo Serao (14-7).

Both will make their PFC debuts on July 18 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino at PFC 9’s “The Return”.

“Serao is sort of an unknown commodity in the U.S. He’s very talented, trains with the Fairtex camp in the Bay area and is a legit Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt. Leopoldo Serao definitely brings a dangerous infusion of talent to the PFC middleweight division,” PFC President Christian Printup said.

“He’s an aggressive striker and he’s a legitimate threat to anyone at 185 on any given night. He may not be the most well-known guy out there but he’s been in the ring with much bigger guys like Ninja Rua and Assuerio Silva and fought internationally for the most part.”

Serao will take on a very tough Roseville middleweight Dan Molina (10-8).

“Dan Molina will be standing across the ring from Leopoldo on July 18 and Dan is a very tough and well-skilled fighter. He’s a WEC and IFL veteran. He’s legit. This is a good test for Leopoldo. If he gets through Molina, there are some very interesting matchups there for him in the PFC.”

Matchups that could include Jara or former PFC champ Visalia’s Kenny Ento (9-4).

“My fighting style is Luta Livre, which is submission fighting. I come to the U.S. from Cluba De Luta in Brazil. Here in the United States I fight for Cluba De Luta and Fairtex,” Serao said. “The PFC is a great show, and I am happy to be fighting here. I am looking to impress the fans and earn a title.”

Molina was on a 4-fight win streak until a recent loss in April to Cory Devela (9-2).

“I do not know much about my opponent [Molina]. I have seen him fight a little bit in the IFL. He is tough, and it should be a good fighter. I want to make the fans happy, so I will try to win by knockout,” Serao said.

Serao last fought in the IFL in February, losing by decision to Oregon’s Josh Haynes (9-10). Serao’s loss to Haynes was his second in a row.

As the UFC put together a card for July 19 to counter the inaugural Affliction show, it affected the PFC in several ways, as Indiana heavyweight Jake O’Brien (10-1) was scheduled to fight Sacramento’s Jeromy Freitag (6-6), but that fight is now canceled, as O’Brien is slated to compete in the UFC now.
The initial PFC 9 card also had a scheduled PFC World Welterweight title fight, pitting Bakersfield’s Bryan Travers (10-1) and Porterville’s Morris Aldaco (6-0), but Aldaco had to pull out because of an injury and the fight has been moved to September.

PFC World Light Heavyweight champ Brazil’s Jorge Oliveira (3-2-1) was scheduled for a rematch with Arroyo Grande’s Glover Teixeira (6-2), but Teixeira had to pull out and Isaiah Larson (5-2) will fill in.
“Obviously we were looking forward to Jorge defending versus Glover, the rematch. Glover however had to travel back to Brazil and the timing of everything precluded him from being here for the fight. In this game you never anticipate a change in opponents, especially in a title fight, but a change should never surprise a promoter either,” Printup said. “I think in Isaiah Larson we found a great opponent. This guy is coming down from heavyweight; he’s 5-2 as a professional competing in the Midwest circuit. He has a strong wrestling pedigree and likes to stand and bang. It’s going to be a war. It’s Jorge’s first defense. It’s Isaiah’s shot at a championship and I expect both guys to bring it and the fans will be in for a treat on July 18.”

Tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets can also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Gift Shop.

Weighins will be held on Thursday, July 17 at 4 p.m. at the Den Sports Bar located on the third floor of the Palace. Fans are encouraged to attend.

On Friday doors open at 5:30 p.m. and fights start at 6:30. The fights will be held out doors for the first time in PFC history.

In other bouts:
— North Highland middleweight Jaime Jara (18-5) vs. Orange Country’s Marcus Gaines (4-4).
—Fresno featherweight Casey Olson (7-2) vs. Sacramento’s Tito Jones (4-1).
—Lemoore welterweight Mickey Martinez (5-1-1) vs. Bakersfield’s Jack Morrison (0-2).
—Hanford lightweight Jeremy Luchau (1-0) vs. Bakersfield’s Juan Lopez (1-3).
—Lightweight Dominique Robinson (12-2-1) vs. Bakersfield’s Chuck Kim (6-6).
—Las Vegas flyweight Ulysses Gomez (1-0) vs. Madera’s Anthony Perales (1-0).
—Visalia lightweight Darren Crisp (4-2) vs. Porterville’s Joe Soto (1-0).
—Lemoore welterweight Paul Gonzales (1-0) vs. Alfredo Mirelas (0-1).
—Hanford featherweight Javier Cervantes (1-1) vs. Corcoran’s Alex Ortiz (0-0).

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

PFC 9 Full Fight Card
Friday, July 18th, 2008
Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino
Lemoore, CA
Tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277.

PFC Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Brazil’s Jorge Oliveira (3-2-1) vs. Isaiah Larson (5-2)
*Oliviera is the current PFC Champion and will be making his first title defense.

Middleweights
Visalia’s Doug Marshall (7-3) vs. Merced’s Phil Collins (6-3).

Middleweights
North Highland’s Jaime Jara (18-5) vs. Orange Country’s Marcus Gaines (4-4)

Featherweights
Fresno’s Casey Olson (7-2) vs. Sacramento’s Tito Jones (4-1)

Middleweights
Brazil’s Leopoldo Serao (14-7) vs. Roseville’s Dan Molina (10-8).

Welterweights
Lemoore’s Mickey Martinez (5-1-1) vs. Bakersfield’s Jack Morrison (0-2)

Lightweights
Hanford’s Jeremy Luchau (1-0) vs. Bakersfield’s Juan Lopez (1-3)

Lightweights
Oakland’s Dominique Robinson (12-2-1) vs. Bakersfield’s Chuck Kim (6-6)

Flyweights
Las Vegas’ Ulysses Gomez (1-0) vs. Madera’s Anthony Perales (1-0)

Lightweights
Visalia’s Darren Crisp (4-2) vs. Porterville’s Joe Soto (1-0)

Welterweights
Lemoore’s Paul Gonzales (1-0) vs. Alfredo Mirelas (0-1)

Featherweights
Hanford’s Javier Cervantes (1-1) vs. Corcoran’s Alex Ortiz (0-0)