Lance Palmer (photo via Twitter / @LancePalmer)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Immediately after Lance Palmer lost World Series of Fighting’s featherweight title to Alexandre Almeida, he argued he had won the fight, and the accomplished wrestler hasn’t changed his mind.

Palmer lost the 145 championship to Almeida last December at WSOF 26, as the latter was awarded the unanimous decision win. WSOF President Ray Sefo didn’t agree with the judge’s scoring either, however, and Palmer has been booked for an immediate rematch with Almeida, July 30th.

Recently Palmer appeared on Full Contact Fighter Radio, and while reflecting on the defeat, the Team Alpha Male fighter said the following:

“He (Sefo) told me, he said that I was going to get the rematch, because he believed that I did enough to win that fight,” Palmer recalled. “At that time, I was like, that’s cool, but I felt that I won the fight. It sucks to take a loss like that, and to have a decision loss like that, but that’s what happens when you leave it in the hands of the judges.”

The result surprised more than a few folks throughout MMA, as Palmer (10-2) is widely considered to be one of the top, rising commodities in the 145 division. Although Almeida (18-5) also had some well deserved hype behind him, the fight was just his second with WSOF.

“It’s one of those fights where things weren’t going right for me in the fight,” the 28 year-old added. “Leading up to it, I felt a little over trained, and things just weren’t really clicking that fight. I kind of felt like I was out there fighting on a half tank of gas. It was kind of a weird, strange fight. I haven’t really had a fight like that, where I felt like that before.”

“But it was good to push through those five rounds,” added Palmer. “Basically at 70%. Going into this fight, I’m going to do things a little differently, leading up to the weeks before the fight. Make sure that I’m 100%. Make sure that my body is ready. Being in Vegas the weekend before then, and cornering three of my teammates, I had to be a little more selfish this time. I’m not going to be cornering people the week before my fight, traveling, flying back-and-forth. Other than that I felt like I did enough to win the fight honestly…”

Almeida – Palmer II will serve as the co-headliner for WSOF 32, which will take place in Everett, Washington.

In the main event, bantamweight champ Marlon Moraes will take on Josh Hill.