Muscle-bound UFC middleweight Rousimar Palhares is considering fighting at a lower weight class to breathe some new life into his career.

The highly-touted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt told Gracie Mag last week that he is considering starting over at welterweight after 19 professional fights at 185-pounds.

"My desire to get down to the welterweight division is great, but I don't want to make a hasty decision ... I will only really do it if my body's response is positive. I'm doing a fully integrated work of nutrition, fitness, supplementation and orthomolecular medicine. I'm with a very good team taking care of me."

After suffering back-to-back stoppages at the hands of Alan Belcher and Hector Lombard, “Toquinho” was suspended for nine months after failing a post-fight drug test for elevated levels of testosterone in December.

Since September 2010, Palhares has posted a mediocre 3-3 record, with each loss coming by way of knockout.

Standing at just 5’8” tall, Palhares stocky frame seems better suited for the UFC’s 170-pound division.

At 33-years-old, would a change of scenery make all the difference in Palhares’ up-and-down experiences inside the Octagon?