Rousimar Palhares suspended two years, fined 40k for holding WSOF 22 submission

Rousimar Palhares and Jake Shields

The Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted unanimously to suspend ex-WSOF welterweight champion Rousimar Palhares two years and issue a $40,000 fine – in addition to court costs – for holding a submission of Jake Shields at WSOF 22.

Palhares’ suspension is retroactive to the date of the fight, which took place Aug. 1 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. He will be cleared to apply for a license on Aug. 2, 2017.

Shields did not respond to a request for comment.

Palhares (18-6), via his longtime manager Alex Davis, admitted responsibility for his actions but repeatedly took issue with those of the bout’s referee Steve Mazzagatti, claiming he was out of position and stopped the action after a danger was posed to Shields (31-8-1).

Palhares was not admonished for eye gouging Shields prior to the third-round stoppage despite a warning from Mazzagatti.

NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar called Palhares’ actions “almost an assault after the fact,” and yet commissioners shied away from a severe punishment. NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall initially recommended between a two- and three-year suspension, but commissioner Anthony Marnell argued that Palhares had already been let go by the UFC for a similar infraction, and commissioner Raymond “Skip” Avansino pointed out that it was the Brazilian fighter’s first offense.

Shortly after the bout, Palhares was stripped of the title and indefinitely suspended by the WSOF, which strongly criticized his actions. Davis initially threatened legal action against the suspension, but both sides eventually agreed that a resolution would be found via the NSAC.

Just days after his fight, Palhares was temporarily suspended pending a hearing. NSAC Executive Director Bob Bennett told MMAjunkie that the fighter had been warned about holding onto suspensions too long.

During the hearing today, Mazzagatti testified that he had clearly instructed Palhares not to hold submissions and said his actions constituted unsportsmanlike conduct.

Additionally, “Big” John McCarthy, who was there to testify in an earlier hearing involving UFC middleweight Caio Magalhaes, was called as a surprise witness. The veteran referee backed Mazzagatti’s assertion that Palhares’ behavior was a detriment to the sport and said he showed a disregard for his opponent’s safety.

With Davis translating, Palhares claimed he couldn’t feel Shields tapping and thought the ex-Strikeforce champ was possibly kneeing him when a tap came in the third round.

Palhares also initially claimed to the commission that he’d previously been sanctioned only once for holding on to a submission, when, in fact, he’d been suspended in 2010 by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board after a UFC bout with Thomas Drwal and released by the UFC after a 2013 bout with Mike Pierce. Additionally, he was suspended in 2012 after testing positive for elevated testosterone.

After a stern re-questioning from NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall, Palhares admitted his previous infractions. Davis, however, disputed a statement from Nevada Deputy Attorney General Chris Eccles that Palhares was warned for holding a submission too long in a December 2014 bout with Jon Fitch that represented the first defense of his title.

California State Athletic Commissioner Andy Foster told MMAjunkie via text that he did, in fact, warn Palhares and said he may have held the fighter’s pay.

For more on WSOF 22, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

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