Jacare Souza confident ahead of fight with Luke Rockhold

On November 27th, the UFC will once again hit Melbourne, Australia for ‘UFC Fight Night 101’. The event, which is slated to take place at the Rod Laver Arena, will be headlined by a middleweight clash between two of the middleweight division’s best fighters.

When Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and Luke Rockhold step into the Octagon, the fight will not only be a pivotal one for both men, but it will also be personal. Back in 2011, the two men squared off under the Strikeforce banner for Souza’s middleweight championship.

Rockhold put on a spectacular performance in Cincinnati, Ohio to defeat Souza, and claim the middleweight championship. Before being signed to the UFC in 2013, Rockhold defended his Strikeforce belt twice, defeating Keith Jardine and Tim Kennedy in convincing fashion.

Now, with the pair set to once again collide, and the UFC #1 contender spot potentially on the line, Souza believes that it’s his time to not only get revenge, but prove that he is the more skilled fighter.

He spoke to Herald Sun:

“I’m ready to fight, to be the champion.”

“This fight should have happened a long time ago, when he unjustly took my belt at Strikeforce. It didn’t happen because he always ran away from me.”

“I’m better than him in everything. I asked for (Chris) Weidman or Rockhold, and Rockhold it is. He says he is a better striker, but I’m going to prove that I’m better at everything. I’m going to come in ready to fight in all areas, I will submit him or knock him out.”

Souza will enter the bout coming off a TKO win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 back in May. Prior to that, Jacare had his 8-fight win streak snapped by Yoel Romero, who he lost to via split decision at UFC 194.

Rockhold on the other hand will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since being knocked out by Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 199 back in June. Following the loss, there was much speculation as to whether or not Rockhold would return to the Octagon after he revealed that he was working as a professional model, and making good money.