Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza (top) drops Derek Brunson with one punch – Photo via Facebook.com/Strikeforce
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza (16-3, 1NC) wants to stay busy and has been asking promotion officials to book him in as often as possible.
So one might assume that since Lorenz Larkin is getting the nod as the No. 1 contender to face Luke Rockhold in November, that ‘Jacare’ would also be fighting on the Oklahoma card for the next title eliminator match.
Not so according to Souza’s manager Gilberto Faria, who explained to MMAWeekly.com recently, that Strikeforce only plans on putting his fighter back into action at the start of 2013 instead of this fall.
“On my last conversation, they told me Strikeforce has plans for Ronaldo Jacare for beginning of 2013. We just hope they have a card for early January, Jacare gets cranky when he stays 4, 5 months without a fight,” Faria said.
“Jacare is more disappointed for not being on the November card than fight against Luke (Rockhold),” said Faria.
“All he wants is fight. He is on his prime and keeping him busy, fighting 3, 4 times a year will help him to evolve as a fighter and his great performances will keep coming.”
Souza has won two straight since losing the title to Rockhold one year ago, finishing Bristol Marunde by third round submission and Derek Brunson via 41-second knockout. The submission ace is 6-1 (1NC) over his last eight matches.
Larkins, meanwhile is undefeated in his pro-career, but only made his middleweight debut in his last fight, winning a decision against Robbie Lawler.
So if you figure out how Strikeforce is choosing their No. 1 contenders let me know.