UFC Welterweight Rousimar Palhares became one of the few hunters who was kicked out of the promotion after a victory.
Rousimar Palhares is undoubtedly one of the most dreaded submission artists in the UFC history. But in the middle of his climb to a UFC title shot, the promotion decided to separate after Palhares almost torn off the heel of an opponent.
Palhares and Welterweight Mike Pierce Kwadraaten on the Undercard of Demian Maia vs. Jake Shields in October 2013 in Barueri, Brazil. It was Palhares' goodweight debut after one on and down point at 185 pounds.
While Palhares conquered in his 170 pound debut, it lives in UFC scande after a controversial conclusion for the fight.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Rousimar Palhares' short-term UFC career ended in controversy
Palhares wasted little time on putting Pierce against the fence under pressure, securing a large branchedown and appeared in the check in the beginning. Only 30 seconds in the fight sank Palhares in a annoying heel hook that forced Pierce to tap and sent the Brazilian crowd in a row.
But Palhares did not stop fighting as soon as Pierce tapped and continued to strangle Pierce's heel before veteran referee Keith Peterson Pierce forced Pierce. It was a wild turn of events after Palhares had achieved one of the biggest victories of his career.
View the chaotic scene below.
Rousimar Palhares submits Mike Pierce. Palhares was released after this victory because he had kept the entry too long. 👊 pic.twitter.com/7QHTH23X2V
– Insa1nt (@the_insa1nt) 9 June 2022
Palhares was denied a post-fighting performance bonus despite his entry of 31 seconds because of what Dana called White 'Unsport-like behavior'. But White went one step further in an interview with Jeremy Schapp from ESPN.
“If you ever look at a UFC event, the comrade, the sportiness is great in this sport. You know, we had an incident with a man named Paul Daley from England, who hit someone after the fight was over,” said White.
“This is the second incident we had with Palhares, where he had the lock and he did not let it go. He finally let it go, but yes, I'm going to cut him too.
“He's ready.”
Palhares was released by the UFC only a few days after the violation and was signed only a few days later by the World Series of Fighting Promotion. But it is remarkable that the WSOF official period of Palhares would end in a similar way.
Rousimar Palhares was cut by UFC, WSOF before refusing to let go
Palhares won his first two WSOF fights about Jon Fitch and Steve Carl before he sent Jake Shields at WSOF 22. Palhares, who was the WSOF champion of Welterweight at the time of the Shields fight, forced Schilden to tap a Kimura deposit in round 3.
But Palhares refused to let go of the entry when the referee stopped the fight and he was immediately stripped of his title by WSOF. He divorced the promotion only a few weeks after the incident.
Palhares ended his MMA career on a six-party Winless Streak and withdrew from MMA after a loss for Florent Betorangal in March 2024 in Kongs FC 2. His last victory came against Aleksei Ivanov, coincidentally with which he submitted Pierce, in July 2017 at Fight Nightts.