After an initial meeting between the two in July was scrapped, World Series of Fighting welterweight champion Rousimar Palhares and former UFC title challenger Jon Fitch will square off in the WSOF 16 main event on Dec. 13, according to promotion officials.
The July bout had to be rescheduled after Palhares withdrew to deal with his mother’s considerable health issues.
The pair will now meet in December, but WSOF officials have yet to announce a location.
Palhares (16-6) last competed in March, when he won the welterweight title by defeating then-champion Steve Carl. His WSOF sting follows a rocky tenure in the UFC. Palhares was one of the most noted leg-submission specialists in the company’s history, but came under fire after failing to release his finishing hold as instructed on several occasions, the last of which cost him his job.
The WSOF is giving his career new life, and Palhares quickly took advantage of the opportunity by defeating Carl, although he is on a short leash in regard to his in-ring conduct.
Fitch (26-6-1, 1 NC) was upset in his WSOF debut, but has since won back-to-back bouts against Marcelo Alfaya and Dennis Hallman, setting up his shot at the belt.
