Palace Fighting Championship
Encyclopedia
Palace Fighting Championship (or PFC) was a mixed martial arts
(MMA) organization based in the United States
that was created in 2007 by Christian Printup. It ceased operations in 2009.
In 2001, Printup helped Reed Harris and Scott Adams develop the World Extreme Cage Fighting (WEC) organization through his position as Director of Entertainment at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, CA. The WEC almost exclusively presented their events at the casino venue. Printup co-produced and marketed the first 23 WEC events and is considered one of the driving forces in the growth of mixed martial arts in Central California. Printup also travelled with the WEC to other venues to help coordinate shows that did not take place in Lemoore. A veteran boxing promoter, Printup was the recipient of the Promoter of the Year award for his achievements in promoting women's boxing by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) in 2007 and 2008. When Harris and Adams sold the WEC to Zuffa the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in late 2006, Printup created the Palace Fighting Championship in January, 2007. Viewed as a minor circuit, Palace Fighting Championship features up and coming MMA stars of the Central Valley and state of California. PFC is known to host events almost exclusively at Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, CA. Some notable PFC competitors include former UFC's Brian Cobb
, The Ultimate Fighter 1
's Lodune Sincaid
, former UFC's Xavier Foupa-Pokam
, and UFC's Evan Dunham
.
In July 2009, The Palace Fighting Championship has immediately ceased operating events at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., severing a longstanding relationship. The promotion’s web site was shut down.
Sources claimed that PFC president Christian Printup continued to own the rights to the promotion and its contracts, and claimed that the PFC could resurface elsewhere under a different name.
In October 2009. Printup announced that he has joined a new company ESMG World, INC with undisclosed partners and that their new venture Fight Night to the Playboy Mansion will begin operation in 2010. ESMG intends to license the Playboy Playmate dancers and stage mixed martial arts, boxing and muay thai events world wide with Playboy models, music and cross-promotions as part of the event.
In July 2010 Printup announced that he is re-branding the PFC as Premier Fighting Championship and will stage mixed martial arts, boxing and muay thai events with the sub title, "So You Think You Can Fight?"
Printup is also well known as being a co-producer of Fight Night at the Playboy Mansion events with his long-time partner George Chung.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
(MMA) organization based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that was created in 2007 by Christian Printup. It ceased operations in 2009.
In 2001, Printup helped Reed Harris and Scott Adams develop the World Extreme Cage Fighting (WEC) organization through his position as Director of Entertainment at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, CA. The WEC almost exclusively presented their events at the casino venue. Printup co-produced and marketed the first 23 WEC events and is considered one of the driving forces in the growth of mixed martial arts in Central California. Printup also travelled with the WEC to other venues to help coordinate shows that did not take place in Lemoore. A veteran boxing promoter, Printup was the recipient of the Promoter of the Year award for his achievements in promoting women's boxing by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) in 2007 and 2008. When Harris and Adams sold the WEC to Zuffa the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in late 2006, Printup created the Palace Fighting Championship in January, 2007. Viewed as a minor circuit, Palace Fighting Championship features up and coming MMA stars of the Central Valley and state of California. PFC is known to host events almost exclusively at Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, CA. Some notable PFC competitors include former UFC's Brian Cobb
Brian Cobb
Brian Cobb is an American mixed martial artist. Cobb is known for his single fight stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championships . He is currently signed with the Canadian promotion, Maximum Fighting Championship...
, The Ultimate Fighter 1
The Ultimate Fighter 1
The debut season of The Ultimate Fighter premiered on January 17, 2005. Sixteen mixed martial arts fighters were invited to participate in the show where they would reside together and train in two separate teams...
's Lodune Sincaid
Lodune Sincaid
Lodune Sincaid is an American professional mixed martial artist from North Hollywood, California. He is a former World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight champion, and was featured on the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter 1 reality show, losing to Bobby Southworth by knockout in the first...
, former UFC's Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Xavier Foupa-Pokam is a French mixed martial artist from Paris. Foupa-Pokam is best known for his brief career in the Ultimate Fighting Championships in their middleweight division, and his long career in British MMA with promotions such as BAMMA and Cage Rage...
, and UFC's Evan Dunham
Evan Dunham
Evan Dunham is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights for Ultimate Fighting Championship in their lightweight division...
.
In July 2009, The Palace Fighting Championship has immediately ceased operating events at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., severing a longstanding relationship. The promotion’s web site was shut down.
Sources claimed that PFC president Christian Printup continued to own the rights to the promotion and its contracts, and claimed that the PFC could resurface elsewhere under a different name.
In October 2009. Printup announced that he has joined a new company ESMG World, INC with undisclosed partners and that their new venture Fight Night to the Playboy Mansion will begin operation in 2010. ESMG intends to license the Playboy Playmate dancers and stage mixed martial arts, boxing and muay thai events world wide with Playboy models, music and cross-promotions as part of the event.
In July 2010 Printup announced that he is re-branding the PFC as Premier Fighting Championship and will stage mixed martial arts, boxing and muay thai events with the sub title, "So You Think You Can Fight?"
Printup is also well known as being a co-producer of Fight Night at the Playboy Mansion events with his long-time partner George Chung.
Current champions
- Flyweight Champion (115 - 125 lb.)Flyweight (MMA)The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine – groups together all competitors 125 lb and below...
: Pat Runez
- Bantamweight Champion (125 - 135 lb.)Bantamweight (MMA)The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The King of the Cage bantamweight class with upper limit at 145 lb...
: Jeff Bedard
- Featherweight Champion (135 - 145 lb)Featherweight (MMA)The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb...
: Diego SaraivaDiego SaraivaDiego Saraiva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Palace Fighting Championship as well as other promotions in the Lightweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Lightweight Champion (145 - 155 lb.)Lightweight (MMA)The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
: Carlo PraterCarlo PraterCarlo Prater is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division, having formerly competed at welterweight...
- Welterweight Champion (161 - 170 lb.)Welterweight (MMA)The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...
: Kyle Pimentel
- Middleweight Champion (170 - 185 lb.)Middleweight (MMA)The middleweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Strikeforce's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb...
: Vacant
- Light Heavyweight Champion (185 - 205 lb.)Light Heavyweight (MMA)The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....
: Jorge Oliveira
- Heavyweight Champion (205 - 265 lb.)Heavyweight (MMA)The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally groups fighters between .Although many ambiguities exist within the lower weight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the Heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform...
: Vacant