Paul Harris has denied any wrong-doing in his recent contentious WSOF title defence.
Rousimar Palhares has been stripped of his World Series of Fighting welterweight belt and banned indefinitely after his latest controversial submission victory against Jake Shields.
The Brazilian forced the tap from Shields with a third-round kimura, but continued to hold onto the submission after the referee had stopped the fight. However, Palhares denied any foul play on his part, and instead, accused his opponent of breaking the rules.
“That makes me sad. Jake Shields is unbelievable. He’s a total asshole. I couldn’t believe someone could be such an asshole. He has no respect for me, for the sport, for anyone. He’s dishonest. He had Vaseline all over his body, he was more slippery than a okra. I couldn’t grab a hold of him for nothing.”
“He’s calling me a dirty fighter, but he’s the one with Vaseline all over his body. That’s dirty. And he also threw things at me while I was talking to the media after the fight. I was upset with things he said before the fight, but I became pissed with everything that happened in the fight.”
“He had so much Vaseline that I could barely stand back up after we went to the ground for the first time. I couldn’t event throw a kick or go for a takedown, I couldn’t hold him at all because he was too slippery.”
Shields also accused “Toquinho” of eye-gouging during the bout, but again, Palhares argued that it was only retaliation due to Shields gouging his eyes… with his chin.
“I never gouged his eyes. I was pushing his face because he was hitting my eyes with his chin. He says his eyes were like that because I eye gouged him, but how about my kicks and punches? Is he crazy? I beat him up, tapped him, and he’s saying I did that because I eye gouged him? That’s pure crap.”
Shields is also facing a suspension for punching Palhares after the fight, and the Brazilian has hit out at fans and media for focusing solely on his actions during the fight, and not Shields’ misdeeds.
“He punched me after the fight, he also tried to kick me but the referee blocked. He had Vaseline all over his body, he put his chin in my eye, and nobody talks about it. All they say is that I held it too long.”
Palhares added that he feels being stripped of his belt was unfair, although he will do everything his employer asks of him in the wake of this fresh controversy.
“It’s not fair, I’m upset, but Ray Sefo is my boss. How am I going to disagree with him? I have to obey. I don’t agree, but I have to obey. I work for him. If he tells me to fight today, I will. If he tells me to fight in six months, I will. Whatever he says, I’ll do. I will fight anyone he says. I’m upset, but he’s the boss.”
Hat-tip to MMA Fighting
