Steve Carl tries to defend a heel hook attempt from Rousimar Palhares (photo via WSOF)

By FCF Staff

Since the inception of World Series of Fighting the promotion has branded itself as an extremely, fighter friendly organization, but it looks like some of that is about to change.

According to a new report, the July 5th bout between Jon Fitch and newly crowned welterweight champ Rousimar Palhares has been cancelled. The promotion’s executive vice president, Ali Abdel-Aziz, has relayed to MMA Fighting.com that Palhares has withdrawn from the bout due to personal issues.

The report also included the following comments from a clearly frustrated Abdel-Aziz.

“We’re getting screwed,” the executive said. “I’m trying to put on a fight card and be nice to fighters, and now they dont want to fight each other.”

“I have to put WSOF first and everyone else second. No more Mr. Nice Guy.”

The bouts cancellation comes just days after WSOF released Andrei Arlovski, so the heavyweight could return to the UFC, and after Josh Burkman was publicly critical of the organization. Burkman has since resolved his issues with WSOF. Abdel-Aziz also claimed that there have been other, off the record situations where fighters have been unwilling to take a certain fight.

Abdel-Aziz also confirmed that a lightweight bout between champion Justin Gaethje and Nick Newell will be the new WSOF 11 headliner.