Jump to content

Ronaldo Souza

From Alfawiki
Ronaldo Souza
Born
Ronaldo Souza dos Santos

(1979-12-07) December 7, 1979 (age 46)
Vila Velha, Brazil
Other namesJacaré
Occupation(s)Mixed martial artist, Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner
Years active2003–2021 (MMA)
Known forStrikeforce Middleweight Champion, ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion, UFC competitor

Ronaldo Souza dos Santos (born 7 December 1979), widely known by his nickname "Jacaré" (), is a retired Brazilian professional in MMA, a skilled submission grappler, and holds a 4th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

Before ascending to black belt status, Souza earned multiple titles as a BJJ World champion at colored belt levels. As a black belt, he became a two-time World Champion, an ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion, as well as a winner of the CBJJO World Cup, Brazilian National, and European Open Championships. His remarkable accomplishments led to his induction into the ADCC Hall of Fame in the 2024 class.[1]

In 2003, Souza transitioned into MMA competition and participated in the UFC from 2013 until 2021. Recognized worldwide for his grappling expertise, he formerly held the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship and also fought under the banners of DREAM and Jungle Fight.

Background

Born in Vila Velha, Brazil, Souza grew up in Cariacica within a cafuzo family. Following a traumatic incident at age 15 involving a friend's shooting, he relocated to Manaus to reside with his brother. It was there, at age 17, that he began training in Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Throughout his career, he secured eight World Jiu-Jitsu titles, including Openweight gold medals from 2003 to 2005 and the 77–87 kg title at the 2005 ADCC. Alongside contemporaries such as Roger Gracie and Marcelo Garcia, Souza is regarded as one of the preeminent BJJ athletes of his generation.

Early career

Souza's MMA debut occurred on 9 September 2003 during Jungle Fight's inaugural event, where he suffered a knockout defeat against Jorge Patino. Over the following three years, he amassed several first-round submission victories, including wins over Victor Babkir and Alexander Shlemenko. In 2006, he competed in grappling against UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture to a draw and subsequently trained at Couture’s facility, Xtreme Couture, located in Las Vegas. Continuing his momentum into 2007, Souza recorded multiple submission wins.

DREAM

In 2008, Souza joined Japanese promotion DREAM, entering their Middleweight Grand Prix. He progressed through the tournament by defeating Ian Murphy, Jason Miller via unanimous decision, and Zelg Galesic before falling by first-round knockout to Gegard Mousasi in the final match. Post-tournament, he trained alongside notable fighters like Anderson Silva and André Galvão. His rematch with Jason Miller at DREAM 9 concluded as a no contest following an illegal kick.

Strikeforce

Souza made his Strikeforce debut on 19 December 2009 with a first-round submission victory over Matt Lindland, demonstrating enhanced striking skills. In May 2010, he won against Joey Villaseñor by unanimous decision. Subsequently, in August 2010, he captured the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship by defeating Tim Kennedy. After one successful title defense, Souza lost the championship to Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision. He remained active in Strikeforce until its dissolution, finishing with knockout and submission victories over UFC veterans like Derek Brunson and Ed Herman.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

2013

In January 2013, Souza signed a five-fight deal with the UFC. Despite a last-minute opponent change for his debut at UFC on FX 8, he secured a first-round submission win against Chris Camozzi. He followed this with a first-round knockout of Yushin Okami at UFC Fight Night 28.

2014

Souza overcame an injury sustained during training to defeat Francis Carmont by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 36. Later that year at UFC Fight Night 50, he submitted Gegard Mousasi, earning his inaugural Performance of the Night bonus.

2015

Scheduled bouts against Yoel Romero faced several postponements due to Souza’s pneumonia; their encounter finally occurred at UFC 194 where Souza lost via split decision. He also avenged an earlier win by submitting Chris Camozzi again at UFC on Fox 15 after Romero withdrew.

2016

At UFC 198, Souza achieved a first-round TKO victory over Vitor Belfort and received another Performance of the Night award. A planned rematch with Luke Rockhold was canceled because of Rockhold’s injury.

2017

Souza earned his third Performance of the Night bonus by submitting Tim Boetsch at UFC 208. Although defeated by Robert Whittaker through second-round TKO later that year, Souza signed an eight-fight contract extension with UFC during that same weekend.

2018

He secured a first-round TKO win against Derek Brunson at UFC on Fox 27, adding yet another Performance of the Night accolade to his record. At UFC 224, Souza lost narrowly via split decision to Kelvin Gastelum in a bout honored as Fight of the Night. Replacing injured Luke Rockhold at UFC 230, Souza knocked out Chris Weidman in round three and earned another Fight of the Night bonus.

2019

Following Yoel Romero’s withdrawal due to illness, Souza faced Jack Hermansson at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson but was defeated by unanimous decision. Moving up to Light Heavyweight later that year resulted in a split decision loss to Jan Błachowicz at UFC Fight Night 164.

2020

Scheduled to fight Uriah Hall at UFC 249, Souza withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19. Later that year at UFC 256, he was defeated by Kevin Holland via first-round knockout.

2021

At UFC 262, Souza fought André Muniz but lost due to technical submission after suffering a broken arm requiring surgery. This marked his final contracted fight before becoming a free agent when his contract was not renewed by the organization. On August 10th, 2021, Souza announced his retirement from MMA competition while suggesting plans to return to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Boxing career

Souza ventured into boxing on April 1st, 2023 at Gamebred Boxing 4 facing fellow MMA veteran Vitor Belfort, where he was defeated by unanimous decision.

Personal life

Souza is married to Larissa Carvalho and together they have three children. In October 2020, he revealed intentions to establish a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy located in Orlando, Florida. By the year 2022, he had also expressed aspirations toward launching a professional boxing career.

Championships and accomplishments

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling

  • ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship:
    • 2011 Superfight Runner-up (vs. Braulio Estima)
    • 2009 Superfight Champion (vs. Robert Drysdale)
    • 2005 Champion – 77–87 kg division
    • 2005 Openweight Runner-up
    • 2003 Runner-up – 77–87 kg division
  • IBJJF World Championship:
    • 2005 Black Belt Champion in Medium Heavy & Open Weight categories
  • CBJJO World Cup:
    • 2004 Black Belt Champion
  • IBJJF Pan American Championship:
    • 2004 Black Belt Champion – Medium Heavy & Open Weight divisions

Mixed martial arts

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
    • Two-time Fight of the Night recipient vs. Kelvin Gastelum and Chris Weidman
    • Four-time Performance of the Night honoree vs. Gegard Mousasi, Vitor Belfort, Tim Boetsch, Derek Brunson
    • One Submission of the Night award vs. Chris Camozzi
  • Strikeforce
    • One-time Strikeforce Middleweight Champion with one successful title defense
  • DREAM
    • Runner-up in the 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix
  • Sherdog
    • Named to All-Violence Third Team in 2014

Mixed martial arts record

|- |Loss |align=center| |André Muniz |Technical Submission (armbar) |UFC 262 | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:59 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|26–9 (1) |Kevin Holland |KO (punches) |UFC 256 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:45 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|26–8 (1) |Jan Błachowicz |Decision (split) |UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |São Paulo, Brazil | |- |Loss |align=center|26–7 (1) |Jack Hermansson |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Sunrise, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|26–6 (1) |Chris Weidman |KO (punches) |UFC 230 | |align=center|3 |align=center|2:46 |New York City, New York, United States | |- |- |Loss 

|align=center |25–6 (1)
|Kelvin Gastelum
|Decision (split)
|UFC 224
|
|align=center |3
|align=center |5:00
|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
|

|- |- |Win 

|align=center |25–5 (1) 
|Derek Brunson 
|KO (head kick and punches) 
|UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 
| 
|align=center |1 
|align=center |3:50 
|Charlotte, North Carolina, United States 
|

|- |- |Loss 

|align=center |24–5 (1) 
|Robert Whittaker 
|TKO (head kick and punches) 
|UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Reis 
| 
|align=center |2 
|align=center |3:28 
|Kansas City, Missouri, United States 
|

|- |- |Win 

|align=center |24–4 (1)  
|Tim Boetsch  
|Submission (kimura)  
|UFC 208  
|  
|align=center |1  
|align=center |3:41  
|Brooklyn, New York, United States  
|

|- |- Win Align=center 24–4 (1) Opponent Tim Boetsch Method Submission (kimura) Event UFC 208 Date 2017-02-11 Round 1 Time 3:41 Location New York City, United States Awards Performance of the Night.

|- Win 

  Align=center 23–4 (1)   
  Opponent Vitor Belfort   
  Method TKO (punches)   
  Event UFC 198   
  Date 2016-05-14   
  Round 1   
  Time 4:38   
  Location Curitiba, Brazil   
  Awards Performance of the Night.

|- Loss 

  Align=center 22–4 (1)   
  Opponent Yoel Romero   
  Method Decision (split)   
  Event UFC 194   
  Date 2015-12-12   
  Round 3   
  Time 5:00   
  Location Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

|- Win 

  Align=center 22–3 (1)   
  Opponent Chris Camozzi   
  Method Submission (armbar)   
  Event UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold    
  Date 2015-04-18   
  Round 1   
  Time 2:33   
  Location Newark, New Jersey, United States

|- Win 

  Align=center 21–3 (1)    
  Opponent Gegard Mousasi    
  Method Submission (guillotine choke)    
  Event UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Mousasi    
  Date 2014-09-05    
  Round 3    
  Time 4:30     
  Location Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States    
  Awards Performance of the Night.

|- Win 

  Align=center 20–3 (1)    
  Opponent Francis Carmont    
  Method Decision (unanimous)    
  Event UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi    
  Date 2014-02-15    
  Round 3    
  Time 5:00    
  Location Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil

|- Win 

  Align=center 19–3 (1)    
  Opponent Yushin Okami    
  Method TKO (punches)    
  Event UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader    
  Date 2013-09-04    
  Round 1    
  Time 2:47    
  Location Belo Horizonte, Brazil

|- Win 

  Align=center 18–3 (1)    
  Opponent Chris Camozzi    
  Method Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke)    
  Event UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold    
  Date 2013-05-18    
  Round 1    
  Time 3:37    
  Location Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil    
   Awards Submission of the Night.

|- Win 

   Align=center 17–3 (1)     
   Opponent Ed Herman     
   Method Submission (kimura)     
   Event Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine     
   Date 2013-01-12     
   Round 1     
   Time 3:10     
   Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

|- Win 

   Align=center 16–3 (1)     
   Opponent Derek Brunson     
   Method KO (punches)     
   Event Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman     
   Date 2012-08-18     
   Round 1     
   Time 0:41     
   Location San Diego, California, United States

|- Win 

   Align=center16–3(1)     
   Opponent Bristol Marunde     
   Method Submission(arm-triangle choke)     
   Event Strikeforce:Tate vs.Rousey     
   Date2012-03-03     
   Round3     
   Time2:43     
   Location Columbus, Ohio, United States

|- Loss 

    Align=center14–3(1)      
    Opponent Luke Rockhold      
    Method Decision(unanimous)      
    Event Strikeforce Barnett vs.Kharitonov      
    Date2011-09-10      
    Round5      
    Time5:00      
    Location Cincinnati, Ohio, United States      
    Note Lost Strikeforce Middleweight Championship

|- Win 

    Align=center14–2(1)        
    Opponent Robbie Lawler        
    Method Submission(rear-naked choke)        
    Event Strikeforce Diaz vs.Cyborg        
    Date2011-01-29        
    Round3        
    Time2:00        
    Location San Jose, California, United States        
    Note Defended Strikeforce Middleweight Championship

|- Win 

     Align=center13–2(1)         
     Opponent Tim Kennedy         
     Method Decision(unanimous)         
     Event Strikeforce Houston         
     Date2010-08-21         
     Round5         
     Time5:00         
     Location Houston, Texas, United States         
     Note Won vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship

|- Win 

      Align=center12–2(1)          
      Opponent Joey Villaseñor          
      Method Decision(unanimous)          
      Event Strikeforce Heavy Artillery          
      Date2010-05-15          
      Round3          
      Time5:00          
      Location St. Louis, Missouri, United States

|- Win 

      Align=center11–2(1)          
      Opponent Matt Lindland          
      Method Submission(arm-triangle choke)          
      Event Strikeforce Evolution          
      Date2009-12-19          
      Round1          
      Time4:18          
      Location San Jose, California, United States

|- NC 

       Align=center10–2(1)           
       Opponent Jason Miller           
       Method NC(cut)           
       Event DREAM9           
       Date2009-05-26           
       Round1           
       Time2:33           
       Location Yokohama, Japan           
       Note For vacant DREAM Middleweight Championship

|- Loss 

        Align=center10–2            
        Opponent Gegard Mousasi            
        Method KO(upkick)            
        Event Dream6 Middleweight Grand Prix Final Round            
        Date2008-09-23            
        Round1            
        Time2:15            
        Location Saitama, Japan            
        Note For vacant DREAM Middleweight Championship

|- Win 

         Align=center10–1             
         Opponent Zelg Galešić             
         Method Submission(armbar)             
         Event Dream6 Middleweight Grand Prix Final Round             
         Date2008-09-23             
         Round1             
         Time1:27             
         Location Saitama, Japan

|- Win 

         Align=center9–1             
         Opponent Jason Miller             
         Method Decision(unanimous)             
         Event Dream4 Middleweight Grand Prix Second Round             
         Date2008-06-15             
         Rounds2             
         Time5:00             
         Location Yokohama, Japan

|- Win 

         Align=center8–1             
         Opponent Ian Murphy             
         Method Submission(rear-naked choke)             
         Event Dream2 Middleweight Grand Prix First Round             
         Date2008-04-29             
         Round1             
         Time3:37             
         Location Saitama, Japan

|- Win 

         Align=center7–1             
         Opponent Wendell Santos             
         Method TKO(submission to punches)             
         Event Hero's The Jungle             
         Date2007-10-13             
         Round1             
         Time1:40             
         Location Manaus, Brazil

|- Win 

          Align=center6–1              
          Opponent José de Ribamar              
          Method Submission(armbar)              
          Event Amazon Challenge              
          Date2007-09-29              
          Round1              
          Time3:28              
          Location Manaus, Brazil

|- Win 

          Align=center5–1              
          Opponent Bill Vucick              
          Method TKO(submission to punches)              
          Event Gracie Fighting Championships Evolution              
          Date2007-05-19              
          Round1              
          Time3:01              
          Location Columbus, Ohio, United States

|- Win 

          Align=center4–1              
          Opponent Haim Gozali              
          Method Submission(rear-naked choke)              
          Event Jungle Fight Europe              
          Date2006-12-17              
          Round1              
          Time1:34              
          Location Ljubljana, Slovenia

|- Win 

          Align=center3–1              
          Opponent Alexey Prokofiev              
          Method Submission(triangle choke)              
          Event Fury Fighting Championship 1              
          Date2006-09-27              
          Round1              
          Time2:30              
          Location São Paulo, Brazil

|- Win 

           Align=center2–1               
           Opponent Alexander Shlemenko               
           Method Technical Submission(arm-triangle choke)               
           Event Jungle Fight6               
           Date2006-04-29               
           Round1               
           Time2:10               
           Location Manaus, Brazil

|- Win 

           Align=center1–1               
           Opponent Victor Babkir               
           Method TKO(submission to punches)               
           Event Jungle Fight 2               
           Date2004-05-15               
           Round1               
           Time0:56               
           Location Manaus, Brazil

|- Loss 

            Align=center0–1                
            Opponent Jorge Patino                
            Method KO(punch)                
            Event Jungle Fight 1                
            Date2003-09-13                
            Round1                
            Time3:13                
            Location Manaus, Brazil

Boxing record

No. Outcome Record Opponent Method Round, time Date Venue Remarks
1 Template:No2Defeat 0–1 Vitor Belfort UD 6 April 1, 2023 Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

See also

External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Ronaldo_Souza&oldid=73712"