Jon Fitch: Rousimar Palhares’ Career Should Probably Be Over
Former longtime UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch has been on quite the career downswing as of late, losing to Demian Maia to earn his release from the UFC before being choked absolutely unconscious by Josh Burkman in his World Series of Fighting Debut. Despite those losses, Fitch still wouldn’t take a fight against the freshly cut Rousimar Palhares, telling MMA Oddsbreaker that ‘Toquinho’s’ career in both grappling and MMA should probably be finished:
“It was a second offense,” said Fitch. “Holding onto a submission too long, especially with a joint lock like that. You’re talking about ending someone’s career potentially. I think it was the right move (to release him). I personally wouldn’t accept a fight with [Palhares] because of those.
One time maybe, but not twice. I would never even compete against him honestly. If he’s got that long of a history of holding onto them too long, his career should probably be done because no one should take a fight with him or a grappling match with him for that matter. It would be the first time in my career that I turned down a fight.”
It looks like Fitch’s prediction is beginning to come true, as Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney recently said that he wasn’t willing to take the risk associated with signing Palhares. Bellator was thought to be the next step for ‘Toquinho,’ but apparently that’s not an option.
At this point, its hard to believe that World Series of Fighting or any other smaller show would risk having Palhares hurt one of their fighters just to get him signed onto the promotion. It’s been a whirlwind of a backlash against the Brazilian submission expert, and while his manager Alex Davis continues to assert that he’s not a mean or evil person, the tapes just don’t lie. Will Palhares ever set foot into an MMA cage again?
