Another World Series of Fighting event, another controversial win for their welterweight champion, Rousimar Palhares. Toquinho added yet another gorgeous submission to his highlight reel but further armed his naysayers (and the Nevada State Athletic Commission) with another extracurricular twist on a joint lock.
The early goings of the fight were not at all favorable for the Brazilian. The first frame was all Shields, who took Palhares down early and often, comfortably staying in the Brazilian’s guard and never flashing an ankle that could risk one of those signature leg locks. Palhares wouldn’t put forward much resistance and quite frankly seemed to quit during the fight.
The second round was the same story but with a single suspenseful moment where Palhares got hold of Shields’ legs on the ground. Shields managed to spin out and once again control the fight in Palhares‘ guard, but Palhares debuted a new technique: a Gerard Gordeau-style eye gouge from the bottom.
Referee Steve Mazzagatti repeatedly warned Palhares but did not deduct a point and allowed him to continue scratching his fingers across Shields’ face.
The fight turned on its head in the third, however. Shields hopped off his stool, visibly tired, and desperately shot for takedowns. Palhares sprawled each attempt and eventually got hold of Shields’ right arm and nailed a gorgeous sweep.
From there, he locked up a brutal Kimura that immediately scored the tap. In vintage Palhares fashion, however, he refused to relinquish the hold and gave it a clear extra tug for good measure.
Rousimar Palhares vs. Jake Shields #WSOF22 Palhares fight ends in controversy as always https://t.co/C5uwlyyS8i
— ZombieProphet (@ZProphet_MMA) August 2, 2015
It’s standard operating procedure for Palhares, who has earned a well-deserved reputation as a dirty fighter, based on his habit of refusing to let go of submission holds. He was famously booted from the UFC in 2013, following his similarly controversial win over Mike Pierce, where he continued torquing a leglock long after Pierce tapped.
Shields would take a swing off his back after the referee finally broke off the fight, which prompted the corners to try to storm the cage (they can be spotted on the right in the tweet). When interviewed after the fight, he was largely unrepentant, ripping Palhares over the submission and criticizing the ref for his inaction over the eye gouging.
In a vacuum, this would be a colossal accomplishment for Palhares. Shields is an amazing grappler and one of the most successful welterweights in MMA history. Defeating him at all, never mind with that gorgeous Kimura, would have legitimized him in a way he has never experienced.
Alas, it is not in a vacuum. Palhares‘ consistently dirty fighting has most likely landed him, and WSOF, in hot water.
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