WSOF star Jon Fitch would not fight Rousimar Palhares

It's been a bad bad week for former UFC Welterweight Rousimar Palhares. First he didn't get the Submission of the Night bonus for tapping…

By: Nate Wilcox | 10 years ago
WSOF star Jon Fitch would not fight Rousimar Palhares
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

It’s been a bad bad week for former UFC Welterweight Rousimar Palhares. First he didn’t get the Submission of the Night bonus for tapping out Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 29. Then he was cut from the UFC for holding the dangerous heel hook submission too long (and injuring Pierce’s knee in the process). Then he was suspended for 120 days by Brazil’s CABMMA. Then Bellator’s Bjorn Rebney said they had no interest in signing him.

Now the biggest star of the only other major North American promotion says he wouldn’t fight Palhares under any circumstances. Here’s what Jon Fitch of the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) told Brian Hemminger:

“It was a second offense,” said Fitch. “Holding onto a submission too long, especially with a joint lock like that. You’re talking about ending someone’s career potentially. I think it was the right move (to release him). I personally wouldn’t accept a fight with [Palhares] because of those. One time maybe, but not twice. I would never even compete against him honestly. If he’s got that long of a history of holding onto them too long, his career should probably be done because no one should take a fight with him or a grappling match with him for that matter.”

And if Fitch were offered a fight against Palhares?

“It would be the first time in my career that I turned down a fight.”

Asia’s One FC remains the last major MMA promotion in the world not to weigh in on Palhares.

Fitch will face Marcelo Alfaya at WSOF 6 on September 26 in Coral Gables, Florida.

More from Bloody Elbow:

SBN coverage of UFC Fight Night 29: Maia vs. Shields


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About the author
Nate Wilcox
Nate Wilcox

Nate Wilcox is the founding editor of BloodyElbow.com. As such he has hired every editor and writer to work for the site. Wilcox’s writing for BE is known for its emphasis on MMA history, the evolution of fighting techniques and strong opinions. Wilcox developed the SBN MMA consensus rankings which were featured in USA Today from 2009 to 2011. Before founding BE, Wilcox was a political operative working for such figures as Senators John Kerry and Mark Warner and an early political blogger. He is the co-author of Netroots Rising, a history of the political blogosphere from 2003 to 2007. Wilcox also hosts the Let It Roll podcast on music history for the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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