Palhares responds to WSOF suspension: 'My conscience is clean'

Rousimar Palhares, dropped by the UFC after several incidents of cranking and prolonging submissions, maintains he's a clean fighter.

The Brazilian didn't do much to quiet his detractors in early August during a welterweight title shot at World Series of Fighting 22 against Jake Shields, eye-gouging and cranking on the kimura that ended the fight.

Palhares, who's since been suspended and stripped of his WSOF title, will have his future with the promotion determined by a hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission in September.

On Saturday, Palhares released a statement claiming his innocence.

"My conscience is clean that, if my fingers had hit my opponent's eyes, at no time, was something intentional," Palhares said. "It is very common in MMA, by miscalculation that the athletes get hit by a kick in the genitals, as well as in the eye, invariably."

He also defended the tenacity of his submissions, which he's used to end 15 fights in his professional mixed martial arts career.

"Regarding to the release time of the submission, this is something I have been working hard, I'm humble enough to take on the things I need to improve," he said. "However, I understand that the referee (Steve) Mazzagatti could be in a better position and had interfered in a better way to stop the fight quickly."

The 35-year-old concluded his remarks by bashing Shields, claiming he'll knock him out if they ever meet again.

"Finally, I would like to tell Mr. Shields that he does not need all this drama to get a rematch. I accept any challenge against you Shields," Palhares said. "This time, I won't give you opportunities to complain, because I'm going to knock you out."

As for the opinions of his fellow MMA competitors, UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon recently posted a video to YouTube comparing Palhares' submissions to his own, highlighting the length of time it takes Palhares to release.