Venator signs Palhares, but he isn't released from WSOF

[WallyBear]

From the front page:

With Jason “Mayhem” Miller already in tow, Venator FC is attempting to sign another controversial fighter.

The Italian mixed martial arts promotion announced on Tuesday that it has booked Rousimar Palhares to face Emil Meek on May 21 at Venator FC 3 in Milan. Palhares will fight Meek for the Venator FC welterweight title, but there could be some complications along the way.

Palhares remains under contract with World Series of Fighting, and according to a report from MMAFighting.com, any attempt by the Brazilian to compete for another organization would be a violation of that deal.

Apparently that agreement is of little concern to Venator President Frank Merenda, who issued a colorful statement on the situation via Facebook.

“Anyway, we don’t give a f--k about WSOF. He will fight for us because we love him, Italian fans love him and he has a family and deserves to make a living,” wrote Merenda, who previously blasted media for criticizing the promotion’s recent signing of Miller. “I’m sick with organizations that try to ruin other people’s [lives]. Toquinho is a Venator FC fighter right now.” [...]

Read more at http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/St...ns-with-Venator-FC-102279#jmpisOCPFqB62OCu.99

 

[Necrocrawler]

Man... I laughed so hard....

I hope he doesn't remove his opponent's leg at Italy...

 

[CountOfSoCal]

Venator is turning into a freak show.

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

WSOF can sue him for fighting elsewhere, but he'll just counter-sue them for the illegal "indefinite suspension" they placed on him when he wasn't even penalized by the ref.

Palhares will get his way, mark my words.

 

[Necrocrawler]

Well... i just hope Venator enters the Rizin association...

 

[Ignicious]

Emil Meek has been under the scope for a while now, and will get his UFC contract if he manages to win this fight.
Unfortunately all norwegian fighter kinda sucks nowadays

 

[sonhow]

Miller vs Paul Harris for the weirdo championship.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Venator's hilarious. Their president is going straight heel.

 

[neomage2021]

WSOF can sue him for fighting elsewhere, but he'll just counter-sue them for the illegal "indefinite suspension" they placed on him when he wasn't even penalized by the ref.

Palhares will get his way, mark my words.

he was penalized and fined by the athletic commission... they have a bit more say on the matter.

 

[Tentacle]

In B4 Venator can't pay salaries and the fighters get mad.

 

[Phrozenspite]

this is a bit different from the wand situation. Palhares doesn't live in the US and own assets here, so wsof really doesn't have a lot of leverage against him in terms of lawsuits. He's only looking at problems if he tries to fight for a US promotion again, or if Venator tries to host a US card

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

he was penalized and fined by the athletic commission... they have a bit more say on the matter.

The problem is WSOF stripped, and indefinitely suspended Palhares long before the NSAC did anything to him. Also WSOF didn`t punish Jake who also broke the rules, which shows favoritism.

Basically they didn't stand by their champ/fighter and they showed they don't represent his interests, and don't want him representing WSOF. Sefo and Ali accused him of doing things that either he didn't do, or no one can prove he did. They said his manager admitted to gouging when he didn't. Palhares can, already has, and will continue to claim discrimination. I think he'll get out of his contract, WSOF doesn't even want him anymore.

Also as phrozenspite pointed out, if he doesn't care about fighting in the US anymore then WSOF can't do much to him.

 

[RDUBYA]

Why do I imagine that the Italian Dana has a pony tail.

I wonder what they pay?

 

[mkt]

You have to wonder what journeyman is willing to fight Palhares in a small/questionable promotion. How much is a healthy knee worth? Probably a lot more than Venator will pay.

 

[Phrozenspite]

You have to wonder what journeyman is willing to fight Palhares in a small/questionable promotion. How much is a healthy knee worth? Probably a lot more than Venator will pay.

maybe venator is going to pull the old JMMA trick and they won't know they're fighting palhares til the day of

 

[Ancuetas]

It is absolutely fair and I hope WSOF will be sued.

These managers thinking they own the life or career of their employees or independant contractor needs to be stopped by all mean. WSOF managers should be sentenced to pay an huge sum of money for trying to freeze a fighter's career.

 

[BisexualMMA]

Ugh. There's always some promoter with no scruples, so Palhares will never really have to find a career where he doesn't injure people who have submitted.

 

[BisexualMMA]

It's like Venator wants to do the Bellator business model, without all of that Bellator dignity and class.

 

[chubbman]

“Anyway, we don’t give a f--k about WSOF. He will fight for us because we love him, Italian fans love him and he has a family and deserves to make a living,” wrote Merenda, who previously blasted media for criticizing the promotion’s recent signing of Miller. “I’m sick with organizations that try to ruin other people’s [lives]. Toquinho is a Venator FC fighter right now.”

Fucking LOL

Frank Merenda > Dana White

 

[Workaholic]

Inb4 he tears Mayhem's ACL