Rousimar Palhares: Jake Shields knows I will submit him

World Series of Fighting announced that Jake Shields would be the next in line for the welterweight title with a win over Brian Foster last Saturday, and he made it quick with a first-round submission.

Right after the win, Shields had strong words for WSOF welterweight champion Rousimar Palhares.

“He’s holding my belt for me,” Shields said of “Toquinho”. “I’m going to go out there and whip his ass. He’s a dirty fighter breaking everyone’s legs and ankles. I’m going to go out there and I’m going to take his knee out. I’m not scared of him and I’m going to bring it to him.”

“Toquinho”, who defended his 170-pound title for the first time with a win over former UFC title contender Jon Fitch in December, decided to fire back.

“What this guy said about me is weird, but even parrot’s talk. Now it’s time to work hard and see who’s the best,” Palhares told MMAFighting.com. “You know why he was so mad? Because he knows he has to fight me now and knows that he will lose, that I will submit him. He trains jiu-jitsu, he knows that.”

Palhares thought Shields’ win over Foster “was really good”, but wasn’t surprised since he “already expected a submission because of (the level of) his opponent”. About Shields’ post-fight attacks, calling him a dirty fighter, “Toquinho” isn’t bothered.

“It doesn’t bother me anymore,” he said. “Thank God I don’t spend too much energy paying attention to that anymore. I’m more experienced now, so that doesn’t bother me anymore.”

Shields and Palhares have a combined record of 26 submissions in 48 MMA victories, and the Brazilian grappler loves the match-up.

“I think it’s great because he knows how it’s going to end,” Palhares said. “He can talk now because when the time comes, the victory will be mine. I don’t know if it’s just confidence, I just know that the victory will be mine. No doubt about it because we’re both from jiu-jitsu – at least I am – so it’s my fight and I will win. When I put my hands on him, he will realize who he’s fighting.”

In Los Angeles to help fellow Team Nogueira member Richardson Moreira in the final weeks of his training camp for a bout with Ildemar Alcantara at UFC 183, “Toquinho” will have to undergo a knee surgery when he returns to Brazil, but hopes to fight Shields as soon as possible.

“I’m here in California, helping a friend in his training camp, and when I get back it won’t take too long for me to fight again,” he said. “I will undergo a knee surgery in 20 days, and I will start physical therapy four days after the surgery. In three weeks, I will be able to start training again, and then I’ll ask my manager to set the date of my next victory;”

World Series of Fighting announced that Jake Shields would be the next in line for the welterweight title with a win over Brian Foster last Saturday, and he made it quick with a first-round submission.

Right after the win, Shields had strong words for WSOF welterweight champion Rousimar Palhares.

“He’s holding my belt for me,” Shields said of “Toquinho”. “I’m going to go out there and whip his ass. He’s a dirty fighter breaking everyone’s legs and ankles. I’m going to go out there and I’m going to take his knee out. I’m not scared of him and I’m going to bring it to him.”

“Toquinho”, who defended his 170-pound title for the first time with a win over former UFC title contender Jon Fitch in December, decided to fire back.

“What this guy said about me is weird, but even parrot’s talk. Now it’s time to work hard and see who’s the best,” Palhares told MMAFighting.com. “You know why he was so mad? Because he knows he has to fight me now and knows that he will lose, that I will submit him. He trains jiu-jitsu, he knows that.”

Palhares thought Shields’ win over Foster “was really good”, but wasn’t surprised since he “already expected a submission because of (the level of) his opponent”. About Shields’ post-fight attacks, calling him a dirty fighter, “Toquinho” isn’t bothered.

“It doesn’t bother me anymore,” he said. “Thank God I don’t spend too much energy paying attention to that anymore. I’m more experienced now, so that doesn’t bother me anymore.”

Shields and Palhares have a combined record of 26 submissions in 48 MMA victories, and the Brazilian grappler loves the match-up.

“I think it’s great because he knows how it’s going to end,” Palhares said. “He can talk now because when the time comes, the victory will be mine. I don’t know if it’s just confidence, I just know that the victory will be mine. No doubt about it because we’re both from jiu-jitsu – at least I am – so it’s my fight and I will win. When I put my hands on him, he will realize who he’s fighting.”

In Los Angeles to help fellow Team Nogueira member Richardson Moreira in the final weeks of his training camp for a bout with Ildemar Alcantara at UFC 183, “Toquinho” will have to undergo a knee surgery when he returns to Brazil, but hopes to fight Shields as soon as possible.

“I’m here in California, helping a friend in his training camp, and when I get back it won’t take too long for me to fight again,” he said. “I will undergo a knee surgery in 20 days, and I will start physical therapy four days after the surgery. In three weeks, I will be able to start training again, and then I’ll ask my manager to set the date of my next victory;”