Fans of karma, this one’s for you.
There are few figures in MMA easier to dislike than Rousimar Palhares.
The Brazilian was released by the UFC in 2013 after failing a drugs test and being found guilty of holding on to submissions long after his opponents had tapped.
A heel hook specialist, Palhares brought his reprehensible ways to World Series of Fighting where he held on to holds way too long against Jon Fitch and, most infamously, Jake Shields which prompted WSOF president Ray Sefo to indefinitely suspend ‘Toquinho’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuUqoqgwoiQ
Then came Saturday night, when Palhares fought in Europe for the first time since a UFC victory in Ireland back in 2009.
The controversial welterweight headlined Venator FC III in Italy but his promotional debut didn’t last long as he was absolutely starched by relatively unknown Norwegian fighter Emil Meek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=CTvYF7vXOus
Palhares came out early looking to close the distance, and presumably drag the fight to the mat where he could seriously test the durability of Meek’s ligaments, but was caught with a massive elbow to the side of the head.
Ground and pound rained down from Meek and the referee jumped in to wave the fight off in what can only be seen as a victory for the good guys.
