World Series of Fighting will crown a new 170-pound champion on April 2, but Rousimar Palhares still feels he’s the best welterweight.

Suspended two years by the Nevada Athletic Commission for controversial actions during his win over Jake Shields last August, "Toquinho" meets Garry Tonon in a submission match at Polaris 2 the same night Jon Fitch battles Joao Zeferino for the vacant WSOF title.

"I will root for Jon Fitch, but everybody knows I’m the real champion," Palhares told MMAFighting.com. "The whole world knows that. That’s what matters to me. I will try to fix the mistakes I might have done. I will fix that, but I’m the real champion.

"I won the title and defended it. I’m the champion no matter what. I have the belt here at home. I’m the champion. They will crown a new champion, but I’m the real champion and everybody knows that."

Palhares’ first son, Christian, was born on Feb. 2, and the jiu-jitsu specialist feels a better man already.

"It made me become a better person right away," Palhares said. "When he was born, I felt I'm a better person already. I started thinking what I did wrong, learned with my mistakes. I will come back better than everyone imagines.

"I will do everything I can to show I have changed, that I’m not the same guy, and everything will be alright. After a storm comes a calm."