Aug
04
2015
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Palhares Past the Breaking Point: Why the World Series of Fighting Needs To Fire Its Welterweight Champion


By Raphael Garcia

There’s a famous saying that goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” In the MMA world, Rousimar Palhares is a continuous reminder of the truth of that saying. The current World Series of Fighting Middleweight Champion has once again found himself in a bad spot that overshadows an impressive victory, this time over Jake Shields in the main event of WSOF 22. And once again, he doesn’t have any wiggle room to apologize, so the leaders of the promotion should punish him.

“Toquinho” defended his title for the second time with a beautiful rolling kimura that forced Shields to submit just after the two minute mark of round three. What was a great display of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu immediately turned to controversy, however, as Palhares held the submission for multiple seconds after his opponent tapped.

Palhares tried to explain away his action, but even that explanation lacked any remorse.

“I didn’t feel the tapping,” he said immediately after the fight. “When you are in the middle of the fight and feel the body against you, it’s hard to feel the tap.”

However, video evidence completely blows Palhares’ explanation apart. Shields tapped repeatedly on his opponent’s leg as referee Steve Mazzagatti attempted to pull them apart. And right after releasing the hold, Palhares stood over Shields, as if to mock his opponent. Clearly, these are not the actions of a remorseful individual.

Palhares has been hit in the wallet for his actions, as the Nevada Athletic Commission withheld his win bonus of $40,000. WSOF President Ray Sefo reportedly has an announcement planned in regards to this situation. Many expect Palhares to be stripped of his title. However, the promotion needs to go a step further and completely release him from his contract.

Palhares has a string of similar situations that have marred his career. He held a submission past the tap against Mike Pierce back in 2013 and UFC President Dana White responded by firing him. Pierce has not appeared in competition since that fight. Tomasz Drwal was another Palhares victim who had to suffer being held in a submission after tapping multiple times.

Many within the BJJ and MMA communities feel that his actions are beyond excusable. In what is an interesting comparison, BJJ expert Demian Maia used his skills to dominate Neil Magny and submit him without doing any real damage. His post-fight comments echo a sentiment that Palhares seems to ignore whenever he has a hold of an opponent’s foot.

“Jiu-jitsu is the only art that allows you to win a fight without hurting your opponent,” Maia said during a post-UFC 190 interview. “My objective is not to knock out anyone; I don’t want to hurt my opponents. I only want to make them tap so that they can go home and train again.”

This should be Palhares’ last straw. Other professional sports have harsh regulations against players who attempt to hurt their fellow athletes. Those who are multiple-time offenders are eventually shunted from the league altogether. WSOF needs to send a message that this is a reprehensible act and remove him from the company. Other promotions should follow suit and send a true message that his actions are not appreciated in mixed martial arts. This is a sport in which violence is going to occur; however, it should not be a world in which fighters can completely ignore the rules time and time again.

Rousimar Palhares is a great fighter and one of the most dangerous BJJ practitioners in the game. But the fact that he is so dangerous should no longer be ignored. Hopefully Ray Sefo and the other leaders of WSOF will not only strip him of the belt, but send him packing. Actions such as his should not be tolerated at any level of this sport.

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WSOF 22: Palhares vs. Shields took place on August 1, 2015 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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