WSoF 9 – Rousimar Palhares Vs. Steve Carl

Watching the fight I was surprised by Carl’s strategy: not only did he let Palhares get the takedown relatively easily, after that he had full guard and yet decided to go for a Triangle choke against one of the best BJJ artists in the game.  It’s not like he got lucky and Palhares fell into a Triangle position and Carl tried to capitalize on it.  He tried to manufacture it out of thin air.

I have to admire him for his courage and risk taking, but this was very foolish against a guy like Palhares.

Palhares, of course, quickly turned the situation into another spectacular heel hook, showing once again his amazing submission skills.

Palhares again seemed to hold a little too long, though nothing that would jeopardize his future in WSOF.  But the fact that even after he was released from the UFC for this behavior he still seems not to be able to entirely not do it, shows, in my opinion, that’s it’s a bit out of his control.  He is so focused on the moment that he is just oblivious to what happens around him.   When most submission artists feel their opponents’ tap they continue to hold the position but release the pressure, waiting for the call by the referee, thus allowing themselves to continue to squeeze in case the referee doesn’t stop the fight, and the opponent tries to continue to fight, which is not such a big risk since the cameras usually catch the tap (Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen 1).

But not Palhares.   Not only does he continue to squeeze after the tap, it even takes him some time to notice the referee is pulling his hand away.  It’s not done maliciously, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous.