Rousimar Palhares
| Rousimar Palhares | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
February 20, 1980 Dores do Indaiá, Minas Gerais |
| Other names | Toquinho, Paul Harris |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 171 lb (78 kg; 12.2 st) |
| Division |
Welterweight (2013–present) Middleweight (2007–2012) Light Heavyweight (2006–2007) |
| Reach | 71.0 in (180 cm) |
| Style | BJJ, GJJ, Boxing, Rio Jujitsu, Luta Livre |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Team | Team Nogueira Brazilian Top Team |
| Rank | 1st degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Murilo Bustamante 1st degree black belt in Luta Livre |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 26 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By submission | 15 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Brazil
|
||
| Men's Grappling | ||
| ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship | ||
 |
2011 Nottingham | -88kg |
Rousimar Christian Palhares (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁowziˈmaʁ paˈʎaɾiʃ];, born February 20, 1980) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. His nickname Toquinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [toˈkĩɲu]), Portuguese for "little tree stump", comes from his short, stocky, heavily muscled build and the low success rate his opponents have had in grappling him down to the canvas. Palhares is primarily known for his powerful ground game. Of his 15 submission victories 11 have come from leg locks. He is also known for his failure to release submission holds when either the opposing fighter has signaled submission or the referee has called a stop to the bout in 3 of his 15 submission wins.
Palhares grew up in abject poverty in the Brazilian countryside. He recalls working in the fields to help support his family as young as age seven and said that there were times where there was not enough food for everyone. He eventually had to leave his shanty and move underneath a local bridge in a tent city slum. Palhares began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 15, before moving to Rio de Janeiro to compete professionally.
He claimed the Fury Fighting Championship Middleweight Championship in December 2007 after defeating Flavio Mura, Pan-Am Jiu-Jitsu champion Fabio Negao, and Chute Boxe's Daniel Acacio in a tournament.
Palhares earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under former UFC Middleweight Champion Murilo Bustamante and Bebeo Duarte. Experts in martial arts touted Palhares as one of the most naturally gifted grapplers today.
Having spent his entire early career competing in Brazil, Palhares' first bout outside his home country was in the United States at UFC 84. He is considered to be one of the best in the world at leg locks, such as the heel hook and kneebar. Palhares took 2nd place in the under 88 kg 2011 ADCC, finishing his first three opponents quickly with leg locks, before losing to established World Champion Andre Galvao in the final, by points.
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