FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the matchup after speaking to a source close to one of the fighters Wednesday afternoon.

The PFC show on May 8 will mark the second career matchup between Rodriguez and Villareal. The two previously met in 2005 at an Extreme Wars X-1 event that saw Rodriguez submit Villareal with an armbar at 2:38 of round 1.

Rodriguez, the former Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew reality television star, holds notable wins in his career over Gary Goodridge, Paul Buentello, Andrei Arlovski, and Randy Couture. Once considered to be one of the top heavyweight fighters in the world until substance abuse and weight issues began to take a toll on his career.

Currently 34-10 in a pro MMA career that began in 1994, Rodriguez is 5-1 in his last six fights with notable wins over former IFO heavyweight champion Chris Guillen and Cage Rage veteran Rob Broughton. In recent years, Rodriguez has been featured on nationally televised events for EliteXC and the ill-fated YAMMA Pit Fighting.

Villareal, 14-14-3, is well-known for his propensity towards receiving and accepting offers for fights at the last minute. However, he will have three months to prepare for Rodriguez. The California native recently recently returned to active competition after being reinstated following a one-year suspension.

He was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs following a first round TKO loss to Jimmy Ambriz during a WCO event November of 2007. Villareal’s return took place at a Fight Quest event on Jan. 31 where he was able to record a unanimous decision victory over EliteXC veteran Mike Cook.

Villareal might be best known for stepping in as a late replacement for Kimo as an opponent for Bas Rutten during a WFA pay-per-view event in June of 2006. Villareal was knocked out by the former UFC heavyweight champion with a kick at 3:24 of round 1.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the news after speaking with PFC owner and promoter Christian Printup.

Kaufman, a Canadian, is 7-0 in her professional mixed martial arts career with all seven of her wins coming via TKO. Her record and the manner in which she has recorded her victories have earned her a reputation of being one of the heaviest hitting females on the planet.

Kaufman’s last two fights took place for the now-defunct Hardcore Championship Fighting where she recorded second round TKOs over veteran Molly Helsel and Josh Barnett-protege Ginele Marquez.

She had been scheduled to fight Kaitlin Young during an EliteXC event that had been planned for November 8 in Reno, Nevada but was cancelled due ProElite’s financial issues.

In addition to confirming the signing of Bobby Lashley, FiveOuncesOfPain.com also learned that Erin Toughill will return to the PFC on Feb. 6

Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley’s second professional mixed martial arts bout is now scheduled for Friday, February 6 when he debuts for the Palace Fighting Championships.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com first became alerted to Lashley’s involvement with PFC after reading a report on MMAjunkie.com. The site then contacted PFC owner and promoter Christian Printup, who confirmed via text message that Lashley will be appearing on the show under the terms of a one-fight contract.

Lashley trains out of American Top Team and won his pro MMA debut on Dec. 13 in Florida when he recorded a TKO over Joshua Franklin just 41 seconds into the fight.

Printup added that the promotion is looking into options regarding signing Lashley to a long-term contract but that his current status with the doormat American Fight League is preventing such an agreement from taking place.

Lashley is just one of three recent significant signings by the California-based fight promotion, which holds shows in Lemoore, California out of the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino. In addition to Lashley, Printup also confirmed that the promotion has signed two former members of the Cuban Olympic team, Hector Lombard (17-2-1) and Alexis Vila (4-0).

Lombard competed for Cuba in Judo during the 2000 Olympics Games in Sydney while Vila was involved with the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Competing in freestyle wrestling, Vila claimed a bronze medal in the light flyweight division. Lombard’s deal is for one fight while Vila has been signed to a three-fight contract and will debut on Feb. 6 vs. Ben Ngyuen.

Printup also confirmed another MMAjunkie.com report stating that former American Gladiators cast member Erin Toughill (8-2-1) will make her second appearance for the promotion during the Feb. 6 show when she takes on Adrienna Jenkins. Toughill debuted on AG during the show’s second and final season and competed under the name “Steel.”

Five Ounces of Pain also learned from Printup that the Feb. 6 event will be a combination boxing/MMA show with Goosen Tutor co-promoting the boxing side of the show.

The PFC started in the wake of Zuffa’s acquisition of World Extreme Cagefighting. After the WEC was acquired and moved its operations to Las Vegas, there was a void at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, where the WEC used to run shows on a regular basis. The PFC now runs shows in the WEC’s absence and is considered one of the top regional promotions in the country.

A list of the fighters added to the PFC roster are listed below. Many of them after expected to debut at PFC 11 on Nov. 20. The promotion’s next show, PFC 10, is scheduled for Sept. 26 and will feature a welterweight battle between Phil Baroni and Olaf Alfonso.

List of New PFC fighters in alphabetical order:

1. Jason Carpenter (lightweight): 13-0 (amateur) and a four-time Grapplers Quest Champion

2. John Gunderson (lightweight): 16-6 and a former IFL veteran

3. Jimmy Jarquin (featherweight): 2-2

4. Lavar Johnson (heavyweight): 7-3 and a former WEC veteran

5. Scott McAfee (lightweight): 5-1 and a former WEC and AFC veteran

6. Jeremiah Metcalf (welterweight): 9-4 and a former EliteXC and Strikeforce veteran

7. Takumi Nakayama (lightweight): 13-11-4 and a former King of the Cage and Shooto veteran

8. Masahiro Oishi (featherweight): 18-9-7 and a veteran of Shooto and K-1 HERO’s

9. Gabe Ruediger (lightweight): 11-4 and a UFC and WEC veteran. Ruediger also appeared on the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

10. Alex Schoenauer (light heavyweight): 14-9 and a UFC and IFL veteran. Schoenauer also appeared on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

11. Kamal Shalorus (welterweight): 6-0 and a former member of the British Olympic wrestling team

12. Lodune Sincaid (middleweight): 13-6 and a former UFC and WEC veteran. Sincaid also appeared on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

13. Justin Smitley (featherweight): 4-2

14. Rambaa “M16” Somdet (flyweight): 4-2 and a veteran of DEEP and Shooto. Considered to be one of the most exciting fighters in the world at 125 lbs.

15. Bill Theofanopoulos (lightweight): 2-0

16. Roni Torres (welterweight): 13-1 and a veteran of Shooto in Japan and Jungle Fight in Brazil

17. Jason Von Flue (welterweight): 13-10-1 and a former UFC and WEC veteran

18. Eddie Yagin (featherweight): 11-3-1