STRIKEFORCE SIGNS RONALDO ‘JACARE’ SOUZA

Though it didn’t receive anywhere near the media attention of Fedor Emelianenko’s rejection of the UFC for Strikeforce, MMA experts were impressed with the announcement that the San Jose, California based promotion had signed Brazilian middleweight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza to a multifight contract.  He is expected to make his Strikeforce debut on the same October event as Emelianenko, which will be broadcast on the Showtime premium cable network.
 
In a statement released by the promotion, Souza expressed his pleasure at the signing:

“I am very excited that I will have the opportunity to fight in STRIKEFORCE amongst many of the world’s best middleweight fighters. STRIKEFORCE has an extremely deep roster of top middleweight fighters. I am looking forward to the challenge and to taking my career to the next level.”

Souza is better known in Japan simply as “Ronaldo Jacare”.  He got the nickname in his hometown of Manaus, Brazil—it’s Portuguese for a species of alligator that is common to the area.  He clearly likes the moniker, and is known for making ring entrances either shimmying on the ground like his reptilian namesake or making ‘alligator jaws’ with his arms.
 
He’s also considered one of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners in the sport.  He was a runner up in the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament, losing in the finals to Gegard Mousasi.  “Jacare” was in control of the fight until he got caught by a Mousasi upkick that knocked him unconscious.  His only other loss in MMA competition came in his professional debut in 2003.  In his last fight, he faced American Jason “Mayhem” Miller in a rematch of their DREAM tournament bout.  This fight ended in a ‘no contest’ after “Mayhem” was cut by an inadvertent illegal blow.  He’s tentatively slated to face Miller again at DREAM 11 in October, though that hasn’t been addressed either by Strikeforce or DREAM parents FEG.  With the two promotions recently agreeing to a working relationship that includes a talent exchange, there’s a possibility the matchup could be contested on the October Strikeforce event.

Souza, who took up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 17, fought MMA legend Randy “The Natural” Couture to a draw in a grappling contest in 2006 and, shortly thereafter, began training at Xtreme Couture. He has since returned to training in his homeland but will reportedly train in the United States at least part time going forward.
 
MMA fans are already anticipating several excellent potential matchups for “Jacare” in Strikeforce, including an almost inevitable showdown with another of the world’s top middleweight’s, Jake Shields.  Also of great interest would be a catchweight matchup between Souza and Shields’ Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu teammate, Nick Diaz.