WSOF vice president on Palhares: 'He needs some serious help'

Despite the UFC cutting Rousimar Palhares in 2013 after a history of prolonged submission holds, the heel hook specialist didn't learn from his mistakes when signing with World Series of Fighting the following year. The Brazilian seized the welterweight title in his WSOF debut after defeating Steve Carl in the first round, but Palhares held onto the submission for too long and carried that ethos into his first title defense against Jon Fitch.

'Toquinho's' championship tilt with Jake Shields at WSOF 22 was the last straw; the promotion stripped Palhares of his welterweight title and suspended him indefinitely following more foul play, including eye gouges and another prolonged submission in round three.

Several MMA fighters rallied for a lifetime ban of the former UFC competitor shortly after his misconduct in the Jake Shields fight and now, WSOF's VP Abdel-Aziz believes Palhares should hang up the gloves and "think about his mental state."

"Listen, Palhares did it to himself. He did it to himself and he keeps doing it to himself," WSOF executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz told MMA Fighting. "For him, I don't think he should think about fighting anymore. He should think about his well-being. He should think about his mental state. The guy needs some help. I don't know what kind of help he needs, but he needs some serious help."

As well as WSOF suspending the 35-year-old, the Nevada Athletic Commission also hit Palhares with a temporary suspension (as well as Jake Shields for striking his opponent after the bell). It's expected that the Rio de Janeiro local will face further discipline at his upcoming hearing with the NAC in September.