Rousimar Palhares to Defend Welterweight Title Against Jon Fitch at WSOF 16

---

Rousimar Palhares will defend his World Series of Fighting 170-pound title against Jon Fitch at WSOF 16 on Dec. 13.

The Las Vegas-based promotion confirmed the pairing on Tuesday following an initial report from MMAFighting.com. Palhares and Fitch were initially scheduled to square off at WSOF 11, but Palhares withdrew from the contest due to personal reasons. A date and venue for WSOF 16 have yet to be announced.

Palhares made his promotional debut at WSOF 9 on March 29, when he captured welterweight gold by submitting Steve Carl with a heel hook 69 seconds into the opening frame of their championship bout. It was the Brazilian’s first fight outside the UFC since 2007. “Toquinho” was 8-4 in the Octagon but was cut from the organization for unsportsmanlike conduct when he continued to hold onto a heel hook after Mike Pierce tapped out in their meeting at UFC Fight Night “Shields vs. Maia.”

Another longtime UFC veteran, Fitch is 2-1 in the WSOF cage. After falling victim to a Josh Burkman guillotine choke in his debut, the former UFC title challenger has bested Marcelo Alfaya and Dennis Hallman in his last two WSOF appearances.