WSOF 9: Carl vs Palhares Results & Discussion

World Series of Fighting 9 welterweight Rousimar Palhares (15-5) is scheduled to fight the promotion’s 170-pound champ, but he won’t be licensed until he passes a drug test.

In the meantime, the WSOF has a “backup plan” to ensure champ Steve Carl (21-3) fights on the March 28 event – regardless of Palhares’ test results.

After Palhares initially was unable to complete a random test requested by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in his native Brazil, the promotion flew him to Las Vegas. He was tested on Monday for steroids and diuretics, NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar today told MMAjunkie, and the results won’t be available for seven to 10 days.

During a media teleconference today in support of the event, WSOF matchmaker Ali Abdelaziz said he was “almost 100 percent sure” Palhares would test clean for his fight. He declined to elaborate on the promotion’s backup plan, but near the end of the call, welterweight Tyler Stinson told reporters he is on deck.

“You reporters need to do your homework,” he said. “I’m the backup plan.”

WSOF 9 takes place at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Its main card airs live on NBC Sports Network following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Abdelaziz said the Nevada commission’s test request came three weeks prior to WSOF 9 and characterized it as “kind of late, with no recommendation where to go in Brazil.”

“Rousimar could not find a place in Brazil, so we decided to bring him here and get the test, and we’ll get the result only a day before the fight,” he said. “We wish we had more notice, but I’m not worried about Rousimar not being clean.

“He was clean for his last fight. I’m very sure he is a clean fighter, but if anything happens, I have a backup for Steve Carl. Steve Carl will fight regardless.”

Palhares is the second fighter this year to be randomly tested by the commission. This past month, UFC contender Vitor Belfort received one while attending the 2013 World MMA Awards, but the results of the test remain confidential because the commission did not obtain a release to make them public. The commission’s confirmation of Palhares’ test indicates the release was obtained this time around.

Palhares tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following a first-round knockout loss to Hector Lombard in December 2012 at UFC on FX 6. He was released from the promotion this past fall for repeated incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct.

The WSOF signed the submission specialist shortly after his release. Through a translator, Palhares told MMAjunkie it was his fault for holding a heel hook too long in a bout with Mike Pierce that led to his release, and he added there will be no more in-cage problems.

Palhares is widely acknowledged as one of the best jiu-jitsu players in MMA. He has submitted eight career opponents by heel hook or kneebar, often prompting frantic taps as he cranks on limbs. After back-to-back losses against Alan Belcher and Lombard, he rebounded with his first-round submission of Pierce.

Carl submitted veteran Josh Burkman at WSOF 6 to take home the inaugural WSOF welterweight title. He remains undefeated in the promotion and enjoys a seven-fight win streak.
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Rousimar Palhares wasn't exactly showing great sportsmanship in the past when he fought for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

"Toquinho" was released by the promotion after several incidents in which he did not let go of his notorious heel hook submission after his opponent clearly tapped.

The brass pulled the plug on his ZUFFA career directly after UFC Fight Night 29 in Brazil, where Palhares defeated Mike Pierce in 31 seconds and cranked on his opponent's leg until referee Keith Peterson had to physically separate them.

Palhares considers those unfortunate occurrences a thing of the past, focusing on the impact he hopes to have in World Series of Fighting (WSOF), speaking to the media about his debut fight earlier today in a conference call for WSOF 9: "Carl vs. Palhares."

"I don't have much to say about the past at this point. I am focusing all of my energy on this fresh start with World Series of Fighting and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue fighting elite fighters on an internationally televised and well respected organization."
The Brazilian signed for the mixed martial arts (MMA) organization nearly a month later, with president Ray Sefo keeping a close eye on the former UFC bad boy and leaving no room for any nonsense.

The Team Nogueira fighter is embarking on a new voyage in the WSOF cage, unaffected by the circumstances of his release and admitted he had made a foolish decision, directly after he was let go.

He makes his promotional debut against Steve Carl, challenging for the WSOF welterweight championship at WSOF 9: "Carl vs. Palhares," and he's more than eager to showcase his talent inside a new cage.

"Steve Carl is a tremendous athlete, and I have a great deal of respect for him. He is the champion in an extremely tough welterweight division. I'm blessed to be in a position to challenge him for his title, so now I need to go out there and do my best and show the world that I deserve that belt more than he does."
"Toquinho" was also very complimentary when speaking about his peers in WSOF, eager to join fellow UFC castoffs Jon Fitch, Josh Burkman and Gerald Harris in the upstart promotion.

"I was approached by several organizations and had many offers on the table, but I felt that WSOF was the best option for me at the moment. Their welterweight division is very deep with top talent like Steve Carl, Jon Fitch, Josh Burkman, Tyler Stinson, Gerald Harris, and I am anxious to test myself against all of them."
World Series of Fighting 9: "Carl vs. Palhares," which features a welterweight title fight between champ Steve Carl and challenger Rousimar Palhares, as well as Marlon Moraes vs. Josh Rettinghouse for the inaugural World Series of Fighting bantamweight title, takes place March 29 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Will "Toquinho" live up to his words?
Mma mania.com

Yushin Okami’s post-UFC career begins next Saturday in Las Vegas. | Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com

When the UFC released Yushin Okami last September, it came as a bit of a shock.

Okami had been a fixture in the company’s middleweight division since 2006, and his release came not after a string of defeats but a single loss to ex-Strikeforce champ Ronaldo Souza. According to Okami, though, it did not take long to get over his unceremonious Octagon exit.

“My manager told me I had been released on the wire. I don’t remember my reaction much. I guess I was surprised at first,” Okami said in a recent statement, “but I always prepare the worst when I lose, so I recovered my composure with time. Thankfully I received offers from many promotions as soon as my release was announced. I received offers from Japan, Asian promotion[s], and also promotions from Europe.”

It was only a matter of weeks before the 32-year old Wajutsu Keishukai fighter found a new home with another Las Vegas-based organization, World Series of Fighting.

“When WSOF presented an offer for me, I was very happy. WSOF is a new promotion, so history is going to be made here and now, and I plan on being a part of it,” said Okami. “I think that the great opportunity to make history and the exposure with NBC made the difference for me. I think that the center of the MMA is North America.”

Okami’s history with WSOF will start next Saturday, March 29, when he faces Bulgarian prospect Svetlozar Savov on the main card of WSOF 9 at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Vegas. While Savov is a relative unknown to stateside fight fans, WSOF’s 185-pound division does hold some bigger potential fights for Okami, namely fellow former UFC fighters like David Branch, Danillo Villefort and Jesse Taylor.

“WSOF has several powerful middleweight fighters, and I know that this would be a better challenge for me,” Okami stated. “Svetlozar Savov has high physical ability... He is a young, energetic fighter with an aggressive fighting style. But my skills are more evolved, and I will put pressure on him at all times an attack him with my wider range of skill. I’m sure this will bring me a victory.”

While some fighters cut by the UFC will sign short-terms deals with another organization with the hope of quickly returning to the Octagon, this does not appear to be the case for Okami. As one of WSOF’s biggest free agent signings, a win over Savov could put “Thunder” in position to vie for the promotion’s vacant middleweight belt -- and that is exactly what Okami is hoping for.

“My main focus and only goal is to become the WSOF champion, and I’m going to start on that March 29 with Savov. Don’t miss it!”

Sherdog.com

After spending the last seven and a half years and 18 fights with the UFC, middleweight veteran Yushin Okami is set to make his debut for a new promotion when he steps into the World Series of Fighting cage on March 29.

Even though he’s moving on to a new promotion, Okami told MMAWeekly.com that it doesn’t matter where he’s fighting as he’ll always be the same fighter.

“The promotion are different, but my aim that to be the strongest fighter is the same,” he said. “I don’t feel like it’s starting over. I’m satisfied with my selections. I am only doing my best.”

Okami is coming off a loss to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC Fight Night 28 in September. In the past, he’s shown great ability to rebound off of losses, having only once in his career lost two fights in a row.

“(I will do) same as up till now, I will keep on going learning from my failures,” he said. “Losing a game is a big chance for me to improve myself. I can show you the best Okami on March 29. Please judge what has changed by my next fight.”

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When Okami (28-9) makes his WSOF debut, he’ll be facing fellow promotional newcomer Svetlozar Savov (12-4) in Las Vegas.

“He has high physical ability and I feel his movement for one is very powerful,” said Okami of Savov. “He is young and energetic fighter, and also his fight style is aggressive, so it will match with my fight style that is evolved more.

“To win the fight, I will put pressure on him at all times and attack him with all my skills. I’m sure that this will bring me a victory.”

Looking forward the rest of 2014, Okami feels he can do in the WSOF what he was unable to accomplish in the UFC.

“To be the middleweight champion of the WSOF is my goal for this year,” said Okami. “I promise to show you my evolved fighting (skills) at WSOF; my new field of fighting; don’t miss it!”
Mma weekly.com

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has nixed two bouts that were planned for Saturday’s WSOF 9 event, but there’s some good news for the fighters.

The fights were pulled from the event’s preliminary card, which takes place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The main card airs on NBC Sports Network, and MMAjunkie streams the prelims.

The scratched bouts include bantamweights Jimmy Jones (4-2) vs. Rudy Morales and (2-0) lightweights Tanner Cowan (0-0) vs. A.J. Williams (0-0).

“World Series of Fighting is committed to putting on as many exciting fights for our fans as possible,” WSOF President Ray Sefo told MMAjunkie via email. “We were pushing for 13 fights, but unfortunately, the Nevada State Athletic Commission simply couldn’t facilitate any more than 11 bouts on our card due to the number of events they are handling that weekend, and we had to cancel two bouts.”

However, it’s not a complete loss for the fighters.

“All four fighters that were pulled from the card will all be paid their show money, and we look forward to getting them in the World Series of Fighting decagon in the near future,” he said. “In spite of the absence of these two fights, we still have an amazing card put together for the fans that is stacked with talent from start to finish. I really can’t wait for this event.”

Saturday’s event features a championship doubleheader.

The full WSOF 9 card includes:

MAIN CARD (NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m. ET)

Champ Steve Carl vs. Rousimar Palhares – for welterweight title
Marlon Moraes vs. Josh Rettinghouse – for inaugural bantamweight title
Yushin Okami vs. Svetlozar Savov
Josh Burkman vs. Tyler Stinson
Ozzy Dugulubgov vs. Johnny Nunez
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 6 p.m. ET)

Mike Corey vs. Shane Kruchten
Sean Cantor vs. Bryson Hansen
Chris Gruetzemacher vs. John Gunderson
Brenson Hansen vs. Boostayre Nefarios
Phil Dace vs. Danny Davis
Brenson Hansen vs. Boostayre Nefarios
Gil Guardado vs. Jimmy Spicuzza

World Series of Fighting welterweight champion Steve Carl has a tough test ahead.

With 16 of his 21 professional victories coming by submission, Carl is scheduled to put his title on the line for the first time against grappling wizard Rousimar Palhares, who has 11 taps under his belt.

They will meet at WSOF 9 main event on March 29 in Las Vegas, Nev., and "Toquinho" expects a battle on the ground.

"Is he going to fight on the ground with me? I don’t know. But I hope he does [laughs]," Palhares told MMAFighting.com. "I don’t think he has anything else to do. His fights always end on the ground. It’s hard to say because I don’t know what he’s planning to do, but usually nobody wants to go to the ground against me. Let’s see if he’s going or not."

"Toquinho" has never fought a five-round bout in his MMA career, but guarantees he’s ready for it.

"It was one of the best camps I ever had," the Team Nogueira welterweight said. "I trained everything, had great training partners. I’ve evolved in everything compared to my welterweight debut."

"I’m ready for five rounds, but you never know how long the fight will go," he continued. "I’m well trained and confident, feeling strong. This is my weight class. I’m here to do my best. I don’t know how long the fight will go, but I hope I go out with the win."

Coming off a huge (and controversial) 31-second finish over Mike Pierce in the UFC, Palhares knows that everybody will keep an eye on him in this fight, especially if he ends up locking a submission.

"I want them to see a new Toquinho," he said. "Wait for it. It’s going to be cool.

"This title represents my rebirth as a fighter, but with more wisdom and intelligence. It’s going to be one of the biggest prizes I ever had."

Headlined by Carl vs. Palhares, WSOF 9 takes place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and features the Marlon Moraes vs. Josh Rettinghouse for the inaugural bantamweight championship. UFC veteran Yushin Okami is also scheduled to compete at the card, making his promotional debut against Svetlozar Savov.

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World Series of Fighting
WSOF champ Steve Carl on Palhares: 'Scariest guy I've ever gotten in the cage with'

By Steven Marrocco March 26, 2014 3:30 pm

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Some fighters believe that over-preparing for opponents’ strengths is the key to success, but World Series of Fighting welterweight champion Steve Carl isn’t one of them.

Although Carl (21-3) faces arguably the best leglock artist to compete in MMA when he meets Rousimar Palhares (15-5) at Saturday’s WSOF 9 event, he told MMAjunkie Radio that he didn’t make submission defense a priority in training camp.

“It’s not something I concentrated on the entire camp because that’s how he’s going to win, not how I’m going to win,” Carl said.

WSOF 9 takes place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on NBC Sports Network following prelims on MMAjunkie. Carl vs. Palhares serves as the event’s headliner, with the winner slated to meet former UFC title challenger Jon Fitch later this year.

Carl, who won the title this past October by choking out Josh Burkman at WSOF 6, is aware of the danger he faces when he steps into the cage against Palhares, who is known for catching seasoned fighters in heel hooks and cranking until they frantically tap out.

The Brazilian repeatedly got himself in trouble for holding on to the joint lock too long and was released from the industry-leading UFC this past fall for the infractions. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board also previously suspended him.

Going into the cage with a fighter known for hurting opponents would be a nerve-racking experience for a person in any sport, let alone one where the point is to inflict damage. But Carl believes Palhares presents an opportunity for growth.

“You grow as a person when you face your fear,” he said. “You grow as a fighter, but you grow as a person. This is the scariest guy I’ve ever gotten in the cage with, but I’m feeling great, and I’m ready to face this challenge.”

To address Palhares’ submission threat, Carl traveled to Texas, where he linked up with UFC vets T.J. Waldburger and Kevin Burns.

“My legs would hurt after five or six rounds of pulling out of leglocks,” he said. “But at the same time, it made me feel a lot more comfortable, because I saw the setups, and that’s what you’re mostly aware of. I don’t want to find myself deep in a heelhook with Palhares. I want to stop it before it gets there.”

UFC vet Alan Belcher was among the first fighters to engage the Brazilian where he is strongest and said he was able to overcome the danger by constantly drilling submission defense with world-class jiu-jitsu players.

Carl said that is a nice idea, but not a realistic one.

“I didn’t have the resources Alan Belcher had,” he said. “I didn’t have world-class guys attacking my legs, so if I had a bunch of fighters who aren’t proficient in attacking my legs, then really, I’m just giving myself a false hope that I know what I’m doing when I get in that position with somebody who’s as skilled as Palhares.

“That’s why I chose who I worked my leglocks with, and I didn’t work them entirely through my camp; I worked them periodically through my camp.”

Targeted to fight Fitch in June, Carl asked the promotion to fill his schedule this year and heard he would be facing Palhares several months ago. Still healing from a back injury he suffered in training for Burkman, he said he was forced to modify his training to deal with other nagging injuries and stopped training when his back hurt.

The changes Carl has made in his fight preparation are not only for Palhares, but himself.

“I didn’t sit there and pretend like in seven or eight weeks, I’m going to become this world-class leglocker and I’m going to have this defense to stop a guy that’s been doing it his entire life,” Carl said. “I don’t want to go into this fight only worried about a heel hook. I want to go into this fight trying to knock him out or choke him out. So I worked on me, just like always.”

For more on WSOF 9, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/

MAIN CARD (NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m. ET)

Champ Steve Carl (170) vs. Rousimar Palhares (170) – for welterweight title
Marlon Moraes (135) vs. Josh Rettinghouse (135) – for inaugural bantamweight title
Yushin Okami (185) vs. Svetlozar Savov (184.5)
Josh Burkman (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (169)
Ozzy Dugulubgov (155.5) vs. Johnny Nunez (155)
PRELIMINARY CARD (MMAjunkie, 6 p.m. ET)

Mike Corey (145) vs. Shane Kruchten (144)
Sean Cantor (136) vs. Bryson Hansen (136)
Chris Gruetzemacher (146) vs. John Gunderson (146)
Brenson Hansen (146.4)* vs. Boostayre Nefarios (146.6)*
Phil Dace (170) vs. Danny Davis (170)
Gil Guardado (161)* vs. Jimmy Spicuzza (154.5)

Burkman killed stintson LOL

Okami fight was so lopsided it wasn't even fun to watch tho I must say okamis grappling looked tight but his striking was off at best....

Flat footed and hesitant

Something about the production seems off.

Oh dugulobgov vs nunes was pretty boring.

Rettinghouse has no business being in the ring with moraes what a mismatch.

Moraes is owning but fighting really dumb in the 4th coulda finished easily but happy to engage in running from a Guy butt scooting LOL.

fka wrote:Rettinghouse has no business being in the ring with moraes what a mismatch.

Moraes is owning but fighting really dumb in the 4th coulda finished easily but happy to engage in running from a Guy butt scooting LOL.

But Rettinghouse was tough though

Tough is great that's what Stephan bonnar and Forrest Griffin were or Joey beltran.

It was apparent within 2 mins moraes could finish at his choice but wanted to pick him apart.

Some if the best leg kicks ever seen.

Carls gameplan was dumb....

Good win for Paul Harris LOL atleast this time he let go if the damn leg.

fka wrote:Carls gameplan was dumb....

Good win for Paul Harris LOL atleast this time he let go if the damn leg.

Toquinho's subs look painful

Palhares is a leg lock machine