The World Series of Fighting countered UFC 190 with its own live event on Saturday night. The had two title bouts with the main event being a welterweight championship bout between former UFC fighters Rousimar Palhares and Jake Shields. Both fighters have name recognition to main event a card but what the WSOF did not factor in was that both fighters carry with them a certain reputation.

Palhares would go on to retain his welterweight championship by defeating Shields with a third round kimura but for the Brazilian grappling specialist, it seems that old habits die-hard.

Palhares has been labeled by the MMA community as a “dirty fighter” because he has made it a habit of not release a submission hold after his opponent had tapped out and when the referee is calling for the bout to be finished. His actions had gotten so out of hand that the UFC had to release him from his contract. Though his talents are not in question, it has always been his sportsmanship and respect for his fellow opponents that has been. After his release from the UFC, Palhares was quickly picked up by the WSOF and soon found himself as the organization’s welterweight champion.

While in the WSOF Palhares had managed to stay somewhat clear of controversy but that all changed on Saturday night. Shields was able to utilize his superior wrestling to keep Palhares on the mat for the first two rounds. Palhares was able to land elbows from the bottom that created a cut on Shields’ face. Shields remained active while on the ground despite the eye gouging by Palhares. The eye gouging had gotten so bad that the referee had to stop the action and received a stern warning.

In the third round Palhares was able to secure a kimura which forced Shields to tap. Though Shields had tapped and the referee had called for the bout to be over by tapping on Palhares’ leg, the champion connoted to crank on the arm of Shields. Palhares eventually let go of the lock and not soon after did Shields land a punch to his face in angry.

After the fight Shields pointed out the marks from Palhares’ eye gouging, and called him a dirty fighter.

WSOF 22 Main Card Results:

Welterweight Championship: Rousimar Palhares vs. Jake Shields via submission in Round 3 at 2:02

Bantamweight Championship: Marlon Moraes def. Sheymon Moraes via submission in Round 3 at 3:46

Clifford Starks def. Mike Kyle via unanimous decision

Abubakar Nurmagomedov def. Jorge Moreno via unanimous decision

Islam Mamedov def. Jimmy Spicuzza via TKO in Round 1 at 4:47

Preliminary Card Results:

Jake Heun def. Davin Clark via submission in Round 3 at 2:46

Donavon Frelow def. Carlos Garcia via submission in Round 1 at 2:49

Marco Simmons def. Jimmy Jones via submission in Round 2 at 2:23

Cory Hendricks def. Julio Hinojosa via submission in Round 1 at 1:08

Gil Guardado def. Pete Martin via submission in Round 1 at 3:31