Jara and Serao Tangle in a Middleweight Showdown

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Palace Fighting Championship middleweight title picture will become a lot more clearer after Thursday’s PFC 11 “All In” at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.

One of the main reasons will be because of a grueling showdown between North Highland’s, Calif.’s Jaime Jara (Pictures) (20-5) and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil’s Leopoldo Serao (Pictures) (14-7).

“The winner of this fight will fight for our title,” PFC President Christian Printup said. “The winner will probably face the winner of Phil Collins (Pictures) and Kenny Ento (Pictures). I think this weight class is stacked right now and we are happy to be able to put on quality fights like Jara versus Serao.”

Serao was supposed to make his PFC debut in July, but was unable to compete because of illness. His last fight was unanimous decision loss in the International Fight League in February to Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Josh Haynes (Pictures).

“It’s going to be a hard fight with a submission or knockout from either side. It’s a very interesting fight,” Serao said.

Both fighters are veterans of the sport and paid their dues in several shows across the country.

Jara is on a 4-fight win streak. He made his PFC debut in July by beating Marcus Gaines (Pictures).

“I’ve been training hard. I’m moody and I’m ready to fight. It’s going to be a bad night for him,” Jara said. “It doesn’t matter where this fight happens, standing or on the ground, I’m ready.”

Both fighters know little about the other, but agree that each is in the way of their ultimate goal, fighting for the PFC title.

“The only problem he poses for me is that he is standing in the way of my paycheck and that I want to fight for the PFC title,” Jara said.

Serao said, “I intend to win the belt and defend it in the future. Next year I hope to have the belt.”

Tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino gift shop. Weighins are on Wednesday at the Den sports bar located on the third floor of the Palace. Weighins are slated to start at 4 p.m. and are open to the public.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the first fight is slated to begin at 6:30.

In the main event, Visalia, Calif. middleweight Doug Marshall (Pictures) (8-3) battles rival Tulare Calif.’s Rafael del Real (5-10). In PFC championship action, Los Angeles, Calif.’s light heavyweight champ Jorge Oliveira (Pictures) (3-2-1) defends his title in a rematch against St. Paul Minn.’s Isaiah Larson (6-1).

Las Vegas, Nev.’s Ulysses Gomez (2-0) will take on Thailand’s Rambaa Somdet (Pictures) (5-2) in a one of two flyweight semifinals. In the other showdown, Hanford, Calif.’s Luis Gonzales (3-0) is pitted against Phoenix, Ariz.’s Pat Runez (4-0). The winners will face each other on January 22 at PFC 12.

In other action;
-Las Vegas, Nev. featherweight Eddie Yagin (Pictures) (11-3-1) vs. Oroville, Calif.’s Shawn Bias (Pictures) (13-6).
-Oakland, Calif. lightweight Dominique Robinson (Pictures) (13-2-1) vs. Osaka, Japan’s Takumi Nakayama (Pictures) (13-11-4).
-Visalia, Calif. middleweight Kenny Ento (Pictures) (9-4) vs. Merced, Calif.’s Phil Collins (Pictures) (6-4)
-Lemoore, Calif. lightweight Poppies Martinez (Pictures) (16-5) vs. Porterville, Calif.’s Tony Llamas (Pictures) (7-7). -Lemoore, Calif. lightweight Mickey Martinez (Pictures) (5-1-1) vs. Visalia, Calif.’s Darren Crisp (Pictures) (4-3).
-Hanford, Calif. featherweight Chad Mendes (Pictures) (1-0) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Ralph Lopez (Pictures) (4-2).
-Las Vegas, Nev. lightweight Evan Dunham (6-0) vs. Phoenix, Ariz.’s Victor Meza (7-0).
-Las Vegas, Nev. Lightweight Jason Carpenter (0-0) vs. Bakersfield, Calif.’s Juan Lopez (2-3).
-Sacramento, Calif. lightweight Scott McAfee (6-1) vs. Porterville, Calif.’s Jason Drake (Pictures) (3-2).
-Chicago, Ill. lightweight Erin Toughill (Pictures) (7-2-1) vs. Ohio’s Jan Finney (Pictures) (4-5).
-Hanford, Calif. flyweight Paulina Ramirez (0-0) vs. Fresno, Calif.’s Brittany Briano (0-0).