5 Most controversial firings in UFC history

#2 Rousimar Palhares

Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares doesn't fight to win but to hurt his opponents. While that is a common trait amongst most fighters, Palhares took it one step further by refusing to release submission holds despite his opponent tapping out and over the years, become known for the gruesome act.

The UFC was quite patient with the Brazillian Welterweight, but it all came to a head when Palhares made his Welterweight debut in the UFC after previously competing in the Middleweight division.

In a victorious effort, Palhares refused to let go of the heel hook he had applied on Mike Peirce despite the latter tapping out 8 times. Palhares refused to acknowledge the tap and continued to crank it up until the referee was forced to exercise some order.

Dana White and the UFC condemned the unsportsmanlike behavior and released the 38-year-old ground-game specialist a day later. An earlier incident when Palhares refused to release Tomasz Drwal from a heel hook in 2010 coupled with a drug suspension in 2012 added to the UFC's case of letting him go for good.