Retired from MMA for 14 months, Ronaldo Souza couldn't stay away from the fighting world for too long.
Earlier this year, Souza teased a foray into professional boxing. While that hasn’t yet come to fruition, “Jacare” is still planning on making his debut in the near future.
"What was breaking my body was the grappling routine. Boxing is something that relaxes my body and mind. I’m really in love with boxing and I’m looking forward to testing myself in a boxing ring,” the two-time world absolute BJJ champion told Sherdog.com.
After hearing that his former UFC opponent, Vitor Belfort, had accepted a challenge from Brazilian boxing legend Acelino "Popo" Freitas, “Jacare” taunted "the Phenom.” Souza and Belfort initially fought at UFC 198, with “Jacare” winning via first-round TKO in their May 2016 bout.
”Come on Belfort, Popo is a small guy. Come to fight someone of your size, maybe in a boxing rematch you can do something,” Souza said.
When it comes to former opponents, Souza sees Luke Rockhold as the favorite in his upcoming showdown with Paulo Costa at UFC 278.
"Luke is more complete,” he said. “I see a bad matchup for ‘Borrachinha.’”
Meanwhile, Souza views Andre Muniz, who submitted the former Strikeforce champion in his last UFC fight, as one of the three best ground fighters in MMA today.
"This guy is really talented,” Souza said. “I see Andre, Glover [Teixeira] and Charles Oliveira as the best ground fighters of MMA nowadays. ‘Do Bronx’ has already beaten all the records, nobody has ever done what this guy is doing, I have no doubt that soon he will be a Hall of Famer.”
In regards to the next career step for Oliveira, Jacare offered a tip.
"He beat 11 Americans in their country in a row. He defended the belt twice against Gaethje and Poirier in their home [country]. If the UFC holds an event in Brazil in December or January, it doesn't make any sense to not put him atop that card. It's a total lack of respect for Charles and also for Brazilian fans.
“Also, he shouldn’t feel pressure to fight soon. This guy is coming from three wars against Chandler, Poirier and Gaethje. His body needs to recover. I truly hope his manager has the balls to fight for what he deserves.”
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