No, seriously, hide them, because notorious leg collector Rousimar Palhares will be trying to rip one off come April 2 in the United Kingdom.
It’s not mixed martial arts (MMA) but “Toquino” has been invited to take on Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon in Polaris Professional Jiu Jitsu Invitational 3.
Affectionately known as Paul Harris, the muscular Brazilian is well-known in the world of MMA for his multiple infractions in releasing his opponent long after they’ve already tapped.
His rap sheet is long and impressive: Suspended for 90 days after UFC 111 for failure to let go after submitting Tomasz Drwal; released from the UFC for failing to let go of a submission against Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 29; and stripped of World Series of Fighting welterweight title for failing to let go of a submission after stopping Jake Shields.
Despite his infractions, Palhares is a talented grappler with 15 of his 18 MMA victories coming via submission, nine of them via heel hook. He’s also fared well in BJJ tournaments, taking second place in the under 88 kg (194 pounds) category of the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, finishing his first three opponents quickly with leg locks before losing to world champion Andre Galvao in the final.
His opponent at Polaris 3 is no beginner either. Tonon is a BJJ black belt under Tom deBlass and Ricardo Almeida, winning titles at the IBJJF World and Pan American Championships. Known as a No Gi specialist, Tonon was world champion in 2011 and 2012 in the brown belt category.
What makes this fight interesting is that Tonon is at least as good, if not better, a leg lock specialist as Toquino. At Polaris 2, Tonon defeated Masakazu Imanari via heel hook in fewer than two minutes.
Polaris 3 takes place April 2 at Poole’s Centre For The Arts in Dorset, U.K. For more information or tickets visit polaris-pro.org.