Sherdog’s Top 10: Dirtiest Deeds

Rousimar Palhares has shown a repeated pattern of bad behavior. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

5. Rousimar Palhares vs. Jake Shields
World Series of Fighting 22
Aug. 1, 2015 | Las Vegas

When witnessing Palhares purposely wrenching Shields’ right arm well after he had tapped, it is important to remember the foul-prone Brazilian has a long rap sheet of unsportsmanlike acts. However, his dirty deeds extend beyond his battles in the UFC, World Series of Fighting and the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships; he has also been known to crank submissions for too long on unknowing training partners.

In the WSOF 22 main event, Shields complained to referee Steve Mazzagatti at the end of the second round about Palhares allegedly raking his eyes from guard. Replays seemed to back up the former Strikeforce champion’s claims. At 2:02 of round three, Shields wandered into a kimura and tapped. Palhares did not release the hold for some three seconds, despite the fact that Mazzagatti moved in to try to stop it as Shields continued tapping. All the while, “Toquinho” had a sinister grin on his face.

Shields left the cage uninjured -- he punched Palhares out of frustration afterward -- but joined a growing line of opponents who have been victimized by the Brazilian’s egregious behavior, from Tomasz Drwal to Mike Pierce to Jon Fitch. Palhares has since been stripped of the WSOF welterweight title.

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