With one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts (MMA) so far in 2016, relatively unknown 27-year-old Emil Weber Meek shocked an Italian crowd when he finished submission expert Rousimar Palhares via first-round TKO earlier today (Sat., May 21, 2016) at Venator FC III in Milan, Italy.
Weber Meek (9-2-1-1 NC), needed just 45 seconds to shake off a Palhares takedown attempt, pepper the Brazilian with strikes to the side of the head, force the referee to peel him off, and earn the right to call himself the new Venator FC Welterweight champion.
The scintillating finish can be seen below, courtesy of @Jolassanda.
OMG! Emil Weber Meek TKO Rousimar Palhares R1 0:45s #AndNew WW Champion pic.twitter.com/kbApkRYM90
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) May 21, 2016
Considering Palhares is known for destroying opponents with vicious, and sometimes illegal, submission locks, Weber Meek's performance means even more. He was entering a situation in which many MMA pundits counted him out.
Palhares (18-6), who was released by World Series of Fighting and suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission following his victory over Jake Shields at WSOF 22 after failing to release a submission hold after the fight was stopped, walked away with his first MMA loss since getting knocked out cold by Hector Lombard back at UFC on FX 6.
Is the outcome to Palhares' international debut ironic in any way, shape, or form? It probably is.