An MMA Thanksgiving: 2015 All-Turkey Team

Rousimar Palhares

MIKE SLOAN: Judging by his history and lack of discipline, it always seemed like it was only a matter of time before the in-combat transgressions of Rousimar Palhares caught up to him. After he refused to let go of a submission when his opponent tapped out repeatedly over the summer, “Toquinho” finally paid for his indiscretions in a big way.

In his highly controversial battle with Jake Shields in the main event of World Series of Fighting 22 on Aug. 1, Palhares locked in a textbook kimura a few minutes into the third round. However, he held onto the submission for several seconds after the Cesar Gracie disciple tapped. Palhares even refused to let go for a few seconds after referee Steve Mazzagatti intervened, creating a firestorm of vitriol from the mixed martial arts community. The dirty tactic took the MMA world by storm, mostly because it was Palhares and not another combatant who committed the vile act. Had it been someone else with a squeaky-clean ledger, it might have just been chalked up to a lapse of judgment. However, because of the Brazilian’s long history, Palhares was punished severely.

On Aug. 4, three days after Palhares’ slime-ball maneuver against Shields, World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo suspended him from the organization indefinitely and stripped him of the promotion’s welterweight title. To make matters worse for Palhares, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended the grappling ace for two years and fined him $40,000. To add an extra layer of sludge to Palhares’ already greasy reputation, he tried to excuse his actions against Shields when he appeared via Skype at the NAC disciplinary hearing in October. He claimed he thought the American was kneeing him in the back, not tapping out. Needless to say, his argument flew across the room like a lead balloon.

Palhares has a well-documented history of holding his submissions for far too long. He was released from his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract in 2013 for refusing to relinquish a heel hook after Mike Pierce tapped. Before that, he was suspended 90 days by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board in 2010 for doing the same to Tomasz Drwal.

With rumors having been circulated for years about Palhares committing similar acts against training partners in various gyms, he might have earned a permanent spot on the All-Turkey Team.

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