Jacare Souza will return at UFC 176

Ronaldo Souza will make his first international appearance for the UFC in August.

Coming off consecutive victories over Chris Camozzi, Yushin Okami and Francis Carmont on UFC cards in Brazil, Jacare will return to the Octagon at the UFC 176 card in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 2.

“’Jacare’s’ next fight is scheduled for Aug. 2,” Souza’s coach Josuel Distak told MMAFighting.com, “but the UFC has yet to tell us his opponent.”

Distak wants an opponent that puts Jacare, No. 4 ranked UFC middleweight, in a title fight next.

“Any option from number one to seven is good for us,” he said. “We’re ready for anyone.”

Four of the top seven UFC middleweights are not scheduled to fight, including Luke Rockhold, Tim Kennedy and Gegard Mousasi, who fought Jacare before signing with the UFC. A win over any of them could earn Souza a shot at the 185-pound title against the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida, set for UFC 175 on July 5.

“We will steamroll whoever is in our way to the title,” Distak said. “Vitor (Belfort), Luke, Mousasi, any of them. Whoever the UFC brings, Jacare will be ready to fight.”

UFC 176 takes place at the Staples Center, and is headlined by a featherweight title fight between 145-pound champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.

Ronaldo Souza will make his first international appearance for the UFC in August.

Coming off consecutive victories over Chris Camozzi, Yushin Okami and Francis Carmont on UFC cards in Brazil, Jacare will return to the Octagon at the UFC 176 card in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 2.

“’Jacare’s’ next fight is scheduled for Aug. 2,” Souza’s coach Josuel Distak told MMAFighting.com, “but the UFC has yet to tell us his opponent.”

Distak wants an opponent that puts Jacare, No. 4 ranked UFC middleweight, in a title fight next.

“Any option from number one to seven is good for us,” he said. “We’re ready for anyone.”

Four of the top seven UFC middleweights are not scheduled to fight, including Luke Rockhold, Tim Kennedy and Gegard Mousasi, who fought Jacare before signing with the UFC. A win over any of them could earn Souza a shot at the 185-pound title against the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida, set for UFC 175 on July 5.

“We will steamroll whoever is in our way to the title,” Distak said. “Vitor (Belfort), Luke, Mousasi, any of them. Whoever the UFC brings, Jacare will be ready to fight.”

UFC 176 takes place at the Staples Center, and is headlined by a featherweight title fight between 145-pound champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.