Ronaldo Souza’s (23-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC) much-requested title shot came close to happening last week, when a neck injury removed Chris Weidman (13-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) from his UFC 199 matchup against champ Luke Rockhold (15-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC).
According to UFC President Dana White, “Jacare” was the first option to fill in for the original contender – but, with an injured knee himself, the Brazilian middleweight had to decline.
Currently recovering from surgery, Souza reinforced during a participation in Brazilian TV channel Combate’s “Revista Combate” that he has no doubts about his contender status.
“The UFC hasn’t said anything about a shot now, but I’m very confident,” Souza said.
“I don’t believe there are any other options for the UFC. I’ve earned my shot. Weidman is injured and will only start training again at the end of the year. (Yoel) Romero has the doping issue. So it’s Ronaldo ‘Jacare.’ There’s no other choice.”
Ronaldo Souza
Souza hurt his meniscus one week before his first-round TKO win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 earlier this month. In order to make it to the octagon then, Souza explained, he simply didn’t train for the seven-day period leading up to it.
It was only two days after winning what he called the “most important fight of his career” that he did an MRI to assess the damage.
“I did an MRI on the 16th (of May) and on the 17th I got the call from the UFC,” Souza explained. “I knew I couldn’t accept it without seeing the results, that I called the ‘black box.’”
In spite of “barely being able to walk” by the time he got the title call, Souza admitted he still briefly considered taking the fight.
“I asked my doctor, ‘So, I can do it, right?’” Souza recalled. “I said, ‘What if I take the same medication I took for the Belfort fight?’ and he replied, ‘You fought Belfort for five minutes and your knee is almost gone. Think of what will happen if you do five rounds.’
“And then a yellow light lit up. I didn’t want to come home to my three kids wearing crutches. Health comes first. My commitment was with UFC 198, and I was there. My next one will be for the belt.”
Following a “clean, simple surgery” on May 19, the Brazilian middleweight hopes to get back to the gym in 20 days. The idea is an October or September octagon return.
Clearly, Souza’s intention is to fight the champion next. Who that will be, however, depends on the outcome of UFC 199’s headliner, when replacement opponent Michael Bisping will try to overthrow 185-pound kingpin Rockhold.
“Most likely, it’s going to be Rockhold,” Souza analyzed. “But I never count anyone out, especially a guy like Michael Bisping. He can make it tough for anyone. But Rockhold will most likely win, via knockout.”
UFC 199 takes place June 4 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
If Souza’s predictions turn out to be true, it will be his chance to avenge the 2011 unanimous-decision loss to Rockhold that cost the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist the Strikeforce middleweight title in a razor-thin decision. It’s a rematch “Jacare” hopes will come to fruition.
“I’m ready to beat Rockhold,” Souza said. “He knows he didn’t actually beat me. A few might not believe it, but when the time comes I’ll show why the belt is mine – why it should have never left me when I was in Strikeforce.”
For more on UFC 199, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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