Former top ranked UFC middleweight Rousimar Palhares is widely believed to possess some of the best Jiu-Jitsu in MMA. With 15 of his 18 wins coming by way of submission, not many fighters want to go to the ground with ‘Toquinho’.
Unfortunately, the same submissions that leave MMA fans stunned, have also got Palhares into quite a bit of trouble. On several occasions, Palhares has held onto submissions despite his opponents tapping out. This ultimately got him kicked out of the UFC, stripped of the WSOF title, and suspended for 2 years by the NSAC.
Despite that, Palhares is coming off a loss to Emil Weber Meek earlier this year overseas under the Venator FC banner. Ahead of his next fight, which is supposed to go down at 185 pounds, Palhares is looking nearly unrecognizable in a new picture of the former WSOF champ at a grappling event in his fight shorts.
No USADA? No problem. pic.twitter.com/nDkU4MjxrL
— #Dizz © (@TalkMMA) September 9, 2016
Palhares’ shocking KO loss Emil Weber Meek saw his 4-fight win streak snapped. The streak spanned from 2013-2015 and saw Palhares submit Mike Pierce, Steve Carl, and Jon Fitch with leg locks. In addition, Palhares submitted Jiu-Jitsu ace Jake Shields with a kimura to win the WSOF title.
Palhares was stripped of the title and suspended for 2 years by the NSAC following the fight for refusing to let go of the kimura after Shields tapped out.