“Will you walk into my parlor,” said the Spider to the Fly.
It’s a rare moment in Rousimar Palhares’ career when the Brazilian will face another grappler with similar credentials to his own in the world of jiu-jitsu. Known for his incredible ground acumen, Palhares will deal with Nate Marquardt at UFC Fight Night 22 on Wednesday. He believes their similar backgrounds will play to his advantage.
Palhares and Marquardt have both trained under legendary jiu-jitsu coaches in their careers, and while the Brazilian may have more accomplishments in the grappling world, he knows that his opponent is a dangerous fighter on the ground as well.
Actually, Palhares is counting on finding out just how dangerous Marquardt is on the ground. While most fighters avoid that position with him at all costs, he believes the former UFC middleweight title challenger will play right into his trap.
“To me, the fact that he does have a black belt in jiu-jitsu means that he will accept to play that game with me, and I find it easier for myself when I fight people with that kind of a background, where they actually engage in jiu-jitsu with me,” Palhares said recently.
Prior to this fight, Palhares had to deal with a brief suspension following his fight with Tomasz Drwal when the New Jersey State Athletic Commission felt he held on to his heel hook submission for too long when finishing the fight. He sat out for 90 days.
A master of leg locks and submissions, Palhares has recorded five career wins by heel hook or ankle lock, and takes exception to the commission’s declaration that he’s somehow a dirty fighter or looking to injure his opponents.
“I think it was unfair,” Palhares stated about the suspension. “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 (like that) would happen.”
Fighters are taught to always continue until the referee steps in to stop the action, and Palhares isn’t letting past events get into his head going into the Marquardt fight. He also has the wisdom of his coach and mentor Murilo Bustamante rolling through his head after a similar situation cost him a submission during his UFC career.
In a 2002 fight against Matt Lindland, Bustamante had to deal with a confusing non-stoppage when he cranked an armbar on the former Olympian. Referee John McCarthy saw a tap, and started to step in, but then let the fight continue. By that time, Bustamante had released the hold and had to wait until the third round to finally catch Lindland with another submission.
It’s those life lessons that Bustamante passed down to his prized pupil that guarantee Palhares won’t let that situation ever come back to haunt him in a fight.
“I hold until the referee stop the fight,” Palhares commented. “That’s what Murilo always tell me to do it, because he had bad experience before on this subject.”
Palhares will look for submissions at every moment in the fight with Marquardt, and in the end, he hopes his hand is raised once again and it gets him closer to his ultimate goal…
…a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
A victory over Marquardt would put him razor close to that very goal.
“I think it would be a big step in my career,” said Palhares. “It is my dream, but I know I have to be ready when this time come.”
Palhares faces Marquardt in the main event of UFC Fight Night 22 on Wednesday in Austin, Texas.
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