Palhares eyes Marquardt and taking a step closer to the title
by Giada Esposito on May 18, 2010

Moving on from his controversial win over Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111, Rousimar Palhares hopes to take a step closer to his dream of UFC gold with a rumored fight against perennial top contender Nate Marquardt.

Palhares submitted Drwal with a brutal heel hook in the first minute of their fight, continuing to crank the lock even after his opponent tapped in agony. Despite apologizing after the fight, Palhares was hit with a 90 day suspension from the New Jersey athletic commission. He hopes now to put the image of the Drwal fight behind him as he prepares for his next challenge.

"I think it was unfair," Palhares told MMAWeekly.com. "I didn't have any intention to hurt my opponent. In my opinion, unfortunately the referee was too far from us and took too long to interrupt the fight. If he was faster nothing of that would happen. I did my job. I held until the referee stopped the fight. That's what Murilo (Bustamante) always tell me to do, because he had (a) bad experience before with this subject."

Palhares, who worked hard for years to bring himself and his family up from a life of poverty on the tough streets of Dores do Indaia in Brazil, is well known for his big smile and humble demeanor. But more importantly to most fans, his jiu-jitsu skills are among the finest of any fighter to step into the Octagon, which include, of course, his signature heel hooks. He will certainly need his whole arsenal of skills if his expected fight with Marquardt does take place. 

"He is a great fighter, it will be a good test for me," stated Palhares of Marquardt. "I am working hard to develop and improve my game. My dream fight (is) a title shot some day, and if God helps me become a champion. I know that to reach my dream, I will have to work hard and fight the best fighters in the world. Right now I am feeling totally secure and confident about my skills. Let them come. I want the best opponents I can have. It is time to test myself against them."

Although he dreams of one day fighting for the belt, Palhares (11-3) is squarely focused on what a fight with Marquardt (30-8-2) would mean for him now.

"I think it would be a big step in my career, and put me closer than what I am now," said Palhares. "It is my dream, but I know I have to be ready when this time comes."

 |  (8) Comments JujitsWho: I totally agree with Palhares about the suspension. It was BS. If refs knew what to look for, they would be in better position at times. Thats where knowing the fighters and their tendencies comes into play. Everyone knows Treestump is all about heelhooks. The ref should have known this as well in had himself in position to stop the fight at all times. Not over on the other side of the ring drinking coffee of whatever he was doing. I really like Palhares and this crap has drug his name through the mud unnecessarily. As far as the fight, I think Marquardt bounces back in this one with a UD or a late fight TKO Rob: How far the ref was from the action has nothing to do with this. Palhares was handed the suspension because he kept the heelhook even after the ref stopped the fight. There is nothing wrong with keeping the lock until the ref stops the fight, but there is something wrong with keeping the lock while the ref is telling you the fight is over and making him physically stop you from holding on to the lock. That's what the suspension was about. I like Palhares too but he messed up in that fight, plain and simple. He was punished for it, time to move on. JujitsWho: I disagree. Ref was out of position so Stump did his job. When the ref got there, he should have made clear that the fight was over. Sometimes you are so focused on the fight you're not paying attention and sometimes even blocking out background noise. I think this is what happened. He let go as soon as the Ref grabbed him. Its fighting. This one was not as bad as Babalu or even BJ Penns chokes GO HARD: i agree with the nate m UD, however like many im rooting for palhares. i like nate m... i just like palhares more. D_V: I called it bullshit right from the start. I still think it was bullshit. We see the replay in slo mo so it looks worse than it was. The guy doesn't speak English either. The problem is, he was just finishing the hold. The guy tapped before the hold was really on with full torque and so him stopping while his momentum is going towards finishing the hold is kind of a tough one, especially since the ref wasn't there yet. I think it was nothing. Rampage blasting Wand after he was already unconscious, and Hendo doing the same to Bisping were two examples of no suspension that were far, far worse than what Palhares did. It is not something to be suspended for imo, and it can maybe be looked at as dirty but it wasn't awful.
WHO WINS THE MAIN EVENT AT UFC 162 BETWEEN ANDERSON SILVA AND CHRIS WEIDMAN?
Silva via Decision
Silva via TKO/KO
Silva via Submission
Weidman via Decision
Weidman via TKO/KO
Weidman via Submission
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!