Rousimar Palhares-Jake Shields Welterweight Title Fight to Headline WSOF 22 on Aug. 1

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Rousimar Palhares will defend his welterweight title against Jake Shields in the World Series of Fighting 22 headliner on Aug. 1.

Sherdog.com confirmed the booking with a promotion official following an initial report from MMAJunkie.com. The Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday approved the WSOF’s request to hold an event at Planet Hollywood AXS Theater in Las Vegas on the aforementioned date.

Palhares submitted Steve Carl with in an inverted heel hook in the first round at WSOF 9 last March to claim 170-pound gold. The leg-lock specialist was successful in his initial title defense, as he tapped Jon Fitch with a knee bar 90 seconds into their encounter at WSOF 16. “Toquinho” has earned 14 of his 17 career triumphs by way of submission.

Shields has also been successful in two appearances under the WSOF banner. The former Strikeforce titlist submitted Ryan Ford in his promotional debut last October before tapping out Brian Foster at WSOF 17 in January. Shields owns notable victories over the likes of Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, Martin Kampmann, Dan Henderson, Robbie Lawler and Paul Daley, to name a few.