WSOF 22: Reasons to Watch Palhares vs. Shields Fight Card

If you're looking for star power, UFC 190 is the way to go. But if you want a solid fight card, top to bottom, what you really want this Saturday is World Series of Fighting 22.

Maybe get the toggle button ready on your remote control. Sure, Ronda Rousey and her submission game is must-see TV but so, too, is that of Rousimar Palhares. You remember Paul Harris, the guy who launched a thousand memes, the guy who was released and banned from the UFC for holding submissions too long, the guy who continues to hold them too long in the WSOF? Not the sharpest knife in Mr. Drawer there.

Is Palhares the kind of guy you look up to as a role model? Yeah, probably not. Is his behavior over the years ridiculous and out of bounds? I think so. Am I going to tune in and see whether he does it again or whether fellow grappling wizard Jake Shields can intelligently defend his way to a win and Palhares' welterweight strap? Yes.

I don't blame you if you don't want to tune in. But I would blame you if you dismissed this card out of hand. Because it really is solid, main event and beyond. Here are four reasons to post up on NBC Sports Network Saturday night.

There won't be a whole lot of striking in the WSOF 22 main event. That's a good thing.

Champion Palhares (17-6) and challenger Shields (31-7-1-1) have 26 submission wins between them. That is a pretty high number. 

Palhares' signature move is the leg lock, particularly the heel hook, which is so dangerous it's banned in some jiu-jitsu competitions.

Shields employs a variety of moves in his so-called "American jiu-jitsu" repertoire, though he has more of a reputation as a grinder than a finisher. Still, Shields knows his subs, most notably his chokes, which have garnered him 11 of his wins as a pro.

Will Shields prevail, or will he end up just another poor sap howling in pain as Palhares tromps off with his patella? If it's the latter, will Palhares again find himself the subject of controversy over whether he held a move too long?

We shall see on Saturday, will not we.

Marlon Moraes is the more well-known of the two. The 27-year-old chews opponents up with violent striking combinations. Even when Moraes doesn't finish, his opponent's face can make it look like he did. This will be the third consecutive bout in which he's worn the WSOF bantamweight gold to the cage.

But he has a worthy match in a fellow Brazilian named Moraes. Sheymon is only 24 years old but already 7-0 as a pro. The bright lights may have gotten to him in his WSOF debut last December, when he escaped with a split decision win that could have easily gone to Gabriel Solorio.

Assuming it was just a case of nerves, Sheymon has the power and the heat-seeking muay thai to go blow for blow with the champion. Regardless of whether you like prospects, you'll want your popcorn close at hand for this one.

Perhaps you've heard of Khabib Nurmagomedov. He's only one of the best lightweights in the world and, before a string of injuries, maybe the top contender to the UFC lightweight belt.

As he's been recuperating, Khabib has had his hands full working with Abubakar, the cousin who has lived in the same house as Khabib since the two were young boys.

Khabib will be in the corner of the man he calls his "brother" on Saturday. But don't get mixed up; Abubakar has the power wrestling and heavy fists to become a player in his own right. He makes his American MMA debut at WSOF 22 against Jorge Moreno.

At first, Mike Kyle was set to face combat sports wunderkind Tyrone Spong. But then Spong pulled out because of an injury.

In stepped Thiago Silva, the UFC castoff with the criminal history. Then came the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which denied Silva a license to fight earlier this week.

Now we have Clifford Starks. No sugar-coating this one: It's been a step down with each change. 

At the same time, 13 of Kyle's 21 pro wins have come by way of knockout. There's a good chance someone's getting laid out. And I like that. I'm an MMA fan.

Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more stuff like this, follow Scott on Twitter.