Former World Series of Fighting welterweight champion Rousimar Palhares has been suspended for two years and fined $40,000 for his actions in the WSOF cage during his fight with Jake Shields, according to BleacherReport.
Advertisement
Having most recently incurred the wrath of MMA fans worldwide for their decision to suspend Nick Diaz for an unprecedented five years, few of us knew how the NSAC would treat a repeat offender of Palhares’ nature during today’s hearing (which was sadly not available on Fight Pass), especially once it was revealed that he had opted not to have a lawyer represent him. The suspension is retroactive to August 1. The bout bout would culminate in Palhares slapping on a tight kimura, which he would continue to hold several seconds after Shields began tapped.
He was subsequently stripped of his WSOF welterweight belt and banned indefinitely by the promotion. He also said he could not see Mazzagatti and thought it was Shields somehow kneeing him in the back, a claim that seems largely preposterous upon repeated viewing of the video evidence.
Palhares appeared via Skype for the disciplinary hearing on Thursday with the Nevada Athletic Commission, alongside his manager Alex Davis but without legal representation. Veteran referee John McCarthy echoed that sentiment after being called to the stand as a surprise expert witness by Davis. And so Mazzagatti went in Palhares’ locker room prior to the fight and, according to the official, used both verbal and physical tactics to slowly explain the rules to Palhares.
The two-year suspension was passed unanimously by the commission, meaning that Palhares will be 37 before he’s allowed to compete again. In 2010, he was suspended after he didn’t immediately release a heel hook on Tomasz Drwal after he tapped, and injured him.
He also tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in 2012, and of his other two WSOF fights, both ended in minor controversy due to questionable late cranks.
Advertisement
Palhares (18-6) emerged victories with a third round submission over Shields.
