Rousimar Palhares Plans To Drop To 170lb. Division
Rousimar Palhares has had some poor showings as of late in the UFC. The stocky middleweight is riding a two fight losing skid, most recently getting the works from Bellator transfer Hector Lombard, at UFC on FX in December. After testing positive for elevated testosterone levels Palhares was sentenced to a nine month suspension from the UFC.
It seems as though the time he spent off has come with some positive outcomes, minus his recent knee surgery. ‘Toquinho’ has joined team Nogueira, led my brothers Antonio Rodrigo and Antonio Rogerio. Palhares spoke recently about being reunited with his former BTT team mates:
“It’s a huge joy to be part of Team Nogueira. Big Nog is a great idol for everybody, and besides training together at BTT, I already had the opportunity to fight in the same card as him in Rio de Janeiro [UFC 134, in 2011].Now representing this team is so rewarding and a big responsibility. I want to recover quickly from the knee surgery to be able to train right away with my new team mates, all high level guys. I hope to add a lot for them as well.”
As well as changing camps ‘Paul Harris’ is also planning a drop to the 170lb. division, a division widely regarded as the most talent deep on the planet. Palhares recently released this statement to Graciemag.com:
“My desire to get down to the welterweight division is great, but I don’t want to make a hasty decision, I will only really do it if my body’s response is positive. I’m doing a fully integrated work of nutrition, fitness, supplementation and orthomolecular medicine. I’m with a very good team taking care of me.”
Once Palhares has served his 9 month suspension (retro active to December 2012) he will be free to wreak havoc on the limbs of the UFC‘s Welterweight division, but will he make an impact? Stay tuned to Lowkick!
