World Series of Fighting welterweight champion Rousimar Palhares has been stripped of his title. The decision, announced by WSOF president Ray Sefo on The MMA Hour, came after Palhares held a kimura too long in the process of defeating Jake Shields this past Saturday at WSOF 22. Shaun Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting tweeted about it a few minutes ago:
Rousimar Palhares has been stripped of his WSOF welterweight title and suspended indefinitely, Ray Sefo announces on #themmahour.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) August 4, 2015
“The fact is that he may never fight for us again.” – Ray Sefo on #themmahour. Says NAC could suspend Palhares for several years.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) August 4, 2015
Palhares (18-6, 3-0 WSOF) has a history of doing things like this. He was released from the UFC in 2013 for holding a heel hook on Mike Pierce for too long, and has been under fire for it in other bouts as well. Shields also complained about Palhares repeatedly poking him in the eyes during the bout, which Sefo addressed as well:
Rousimar Palhares can say he didn’t do it, but “the fact is, his fingers were in his eyes and that’s illegal.” – Ray Sefo on #themmahour.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) August 4, 2015
WSOF exec Ali Abdel-Aziz said in the aftermath of the event that stripping Palhares of the title was a possibility, and that a bout between Shields and the winner of the Jon Fitch/Yushin Okami fight could happen for the vacant belt.
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