This one is going to be good!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is headed back to beautiful Brazil.
And the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization is bringing two of the country’s finest, as Vitor Belfort has been booked to face off against Ronaldo Souza in the headlining act of the FOX Sports 1-televised event on May 14, 2016.
From the official announcement:
Brazil’s first UFC event of 2016 will be one to remember, as former light heavyweight champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort looks to make his case for another shot at the middleweight title when he faces countryman and former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza on Saturday, May 14. The five-round main event will headline a FOX Sports 1-televised card to take place at a site to be named shortly. Stay tuned to UFC.com for venue information, ticket on-sale dates and more fight card announcements.
Barn burner!
Belfort is coming off a first-round knockout victory over Dan Henderson last November; his first win since failing to capture the middleweight title against former champion Chris Weidman six months prior.
Souza, meanwhile, had his eight-fight win streak snapped more recently by Yoel Romero at UFC 194, losing out on his own title fight in the process. But it could soon be overturned to a no-contest (NC) if Romero is indeed found guilty of failing his post-fight drug test.
Now “Jacare” will shift his focus on getting one more victory, as a win over “The Phenom” should get him his much-desired championship bout. A victory for Belfort, on the other hand, might warrant him another go-around against Luke Rockhold, this time with bigger stakes on the line.
Anyone care to offer up their early predictions for this classic striker vs. grappler match up?