Tag: jacare

After Calling Out GSP & Nick Diaz, Michael Bisping Won’t Be Fighting Soon

In the weeks after his close decision win over Dan Henderson at October 4’s UFC 204, UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been busy calling out two big names in Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz for the feature bout of December 10’s UFC 206 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Neither fight seemed to materialize, yet “The

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In the weeks after his close decision win over Dan Henderson at October 4’s UFC 204, UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been busy calling out two big names in Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz for the feature bout of December 10’s UFC 206 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Neither fight seemed to materialize, yet “The Count” was tabbed to talked about as a replacement for Luke Rockhold against Jacare Souza in the main event of November’s UFC Fight Night 101 from Melbourne, Australia.

However, while serving as host of “UFC Tonight” on FOX Sports 1, he revealed that wouldn’t be fighting any of those big names, as he’s healing from a broken orbital suffered against Henderson and also has to get treatment on his knee:

“As you all know, I fought Dan Henderson very recently. I’ve got a busted orbital, I’m getting injections in my knee.”

That seems like a peculiar set of circumstances considering he was calling out GSP and Diaz so recently, but Bisping clarified that he miraculously could have recovered to take on either of those two superstars because of the payday involved, something that was absent from the bout with Jacare:

“Now I know what everyone at home is going to say: ‘Didn’t you call out GSP a couple weeks ago? Yes, I did, but really, think about this, that was a massive payday, roughly $3-4 million I would have earned from that fight. Against Jacare, I’m going to get around about a quarter.”

So the MMA world – in addition to Jacare’s manager – thinks Bisping is somehow ducking the lethal submission artist, but the British titleholder insists that is not what he’s doing and something he’s never done. In his opinion, he’s going to face the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Yoel Romero at UFC 205 or Jacare:

“I’m assuming they’re saying that I’m ducking Jacare,” Bisping said. “I’ve never ducked anybody in my life. … Next week, Yoel and Weidman are fighting. Whoever wins, either that guy, or Jacare, will be my next fight, make no mistake. But I’m not doing it in a few weeks.”

While it’s no surprise Bisping is unable to fight Souza in November, it is a curious scenario that he could seemingly fight only three weeks later if he does have a serious injury, especially considering his history of eye issues. Bisping is looking for the big payday, and unfortunately for the Fighter of the Year candidate (whether you like it or not), that’s something he’s been accused of doing rather than facing the best 185-pound martial artists in the UFC.

The only thing he can do to silence those haters is face and defeat Jacare, Weidman, or Romero in his next title fight.

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Luke Rockhold: New UFC Owners Trying To Keep Paychecks Down

Despite turning down a fight from the UFC last week due to the money being ‘bulls**t’, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold signed on the dotted line earlier this week to step into the Octagon with perennial 185-pound contender Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza later this year. Rockhold joined the Extra Rounds podcast yesterday (September 15, 2016), courtesy

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Despite turning down a fight from the UFC last week due to the money being ‘bulls**t’, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold signed on the dotted line earlier this week to step into the Octagon with perennial 185-pound contender Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza later this year.

Rockhold joined the Extra Rounds podcast yesterday (September 15, 2016), courtesy of MMA Fighting, and stated that although he loves to step into the UFC’s Octagon and scrap he still needs to see a pretty paycheck when it’s all said and done:

“I signed my contract with the UFC back before I fought Machida. I had confidence in myself to win the title and I thought that I’d find myself in a better situation but the contract fell back – before I was able to restructure it – to a place where I wasn’t really happy with it.

Seeing what I fell back to and knowing what I’ve accomplished and my credibility in the sport, I wasn’t happy with what they were offering. It’s gonna take more than that to get me to fight. I’ve got other avenues outside the sport, and I’m not gonna go fight when it’s not worth it.

I gotta get my due, I’ve gotta get my worth. No matter how much I love fight, and what I’m doing out here, I need to get f*cking paid.”

Luke RockholdThe UFC has been embroiled in quite a few contract disputes with it’s top tier talents such as UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, and now Rockhold.

The AKA product believes the sport is in a bit of a ‘transition period’ in which fighters are beginning to utilize their leverage in contract negotiations to get what they believe they are worth in terms of finances:

“I think we’re in a transition period. I think there’s definitely positive change in the sport and people are starting to realize it’s about leverage in the right situation and understanding your worth… These guys are trying to keep you down on these paychecks, keep you hungry, keep you needing more.”

The new deal seems to have pleased the former 185-pound champ, and believes the fight between him and ‘Jacare’ makes the most sense to lead him back into the title picture:

“They restructured the deal for the time being, and so we got a new contract. We got a new contract upping the money, and we got the right fight so I think this will be the best fight for me right now to get me back to the title. I think we’re clearly the best two guys in the division, so this will solidify myself to going back and getting my gold back.”

Last time out Rockhold failed to respect Michael Bisping at UFC 199 earlier this year, and paid the consequences with a stunning first round knockout loss. Bisping would take home the gold for the first time in his career, and Rockhold would be left disappointed with himself in the Octagon as he knows in his heart he has what it takes to down the British veteran.

BispingStopsRockholdNow Rockhold is going into his bout against Souza with respect for the man that will be standing across from him in the Octagon, and doing what he has to do to get back to the gold belt that once rested across his shoulder:

“It’s about respecting your opponent, something I didn’t do the last time out. I went out there and completely disregarded my opponent and what he brought to the table. Anything can happen in this game and I got caught.

But it doesn’t tell the tale of who the better fighter is. It’s time for me to go back and fight in a way that got me to the title. That’s being a precise, tactical fighter and respecting my opponent. Going in there and doing what I have to do.”

Rockhold will meet Souza in the main event of UFC Fight Night 101 live on FS1, from the Rod Laver Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on November 26, 2016.

Jacare-Rockhold

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Michael Bisping To Weidman: Go & Beat Luke, I’ll Be Waiting

2016 has been quite the year so far for UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, as the longtime veteran finally added his crowning achievement of UFC gold to his resume with a shocking first-round knockout of heavily favored Luke Rockhold at June 4’s UFC 199 from Los Angeles. Since that day, the speculation has run wild

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2016 has been quite the year so far for UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, as the longtime veteran finally added his crowning achievement of UFC gold to his resume with a shocking first-round knockout of heavily favored Luke Rockhold at June 4’s UFC 199 from Los Angeles.

Since that day, the speculation has run wild about just whom Bisping would face next in the top-heavy middleweight landscape, with obvious bouts against top contenders Chris Weidman and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza lining up as the most glaring examples.

Weidman, who was scheduled to rematch Rockhold at UFC 199 before a neck injury forced him out, has been extremely vocal with the opinion that Bisping is “running,” but Souza has also stirred that stance up himself. But Bisping eschewed both top fighters for a bout against his 45-year-old arch rival Dan Henderson, who knocked out Hector Lombard at UFC 199, in the main event of October’s UFC 204 from Manchester, England.

Bisping had some forceful words for Weidman’s accusations in an interview with The Daily Star Report (via Bloody Elbow), stating that the logic of a match with Weidman doesn’t add up:

“The logic just doesn’t stack up because I just knocked out a guy in three minutes that beat the living daylights out of you. So why would I be running scared from him?

“The fact is you lost the fight. Ok, you were scheduled for a title fight against Luke because that was a rematch.”

“The Count” believes the former champion should go and win a big fight before he gets a shot at his title:

“But it’s not a rematch with me, we’ve never fought before. So you need to win a fight. You don’t get title shots coming off a loss unless your name is Chael Sonnen. So go and win a fight, Chris.”

Bisping then closed by turning the tables on Weidman, insinuating that it was actually he who was running scared:

“Who is really scared here? Are you worried you won’t win a fight? Is that why you want a title shot straight away? 

“Go and beat Luke like your were supposed to. If you beat Luke I’ll still be here. I plan on keeping this.”

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‘Jacare’ Souza Needs Help Catching ‘PokeBisping’ On Pokemon GO

The Pokemon GO phenomenon has stretched it’s way across the world these past few months, and now it seems it has managed to make it’s way into the world of the UFC. No. 3-ranked middleweight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza has been one of the most dangerous 185-pound fighters on the planet for quite some time now. ‘Jacare’ […]

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The Pokemon GO phenomenon has stretched it’s way across the world these past few months, and now it seems it has managed to make it’s way into the world of the UFC.

No. 3-ranked middleweight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza has been one of the most dangerous 185-pound fighters on the planet for quite some time now. ‘Jacare’ was previously on a eight-fight win streak before running into Yoel Romero at UFC 194 last December, and suffered a razor close split decision loss to the Cuban.

‘Jacare’ was able to regroup following the devastating loss with a vicious first round TKO finish of Vitor Belfort this past May, and is now campaigning for a shot at the UFC 185-pound title.

The man who holds that title, Michael Bisping, will instead be defending it against No. 13-ranked Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 204.

Despite this ‘Jacare’ still continues to campaign for a shot at the belt, using Pokemon GO to poke fun at Bisping via Instagram:

“I’m looking for PokeBisping to battle. Did anyone see him?”

Bisping and Henderson are set to do battle for the gold at UFC 204 live on pay-per-view (PPV) from Manchester, England on October 8, 2016.

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‘Jacare’ On GSP Moving To Middleweight: ‘I’ll Break His Neck’

Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza is one of the most dominant 185-pound fighters on the planet, and he proved it by obliterating former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in the first round of their co-main event bout at UFC 198 this past May. The No. 3-ranked middleweight could be next in line for a shot at the 185-pound

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Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza is one of the most dominant 185-pound fighters on the planet, and he proved it by obliterating former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in the first round of their co-main event bout at UFC 198 this past May.

The No. 3-ranked middleweight could be next in line for a shot at the 185-pound crown, and in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, the surging Brazilian stated that he believes he’s leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else in the talented 185-pound pool:

“I can guarantee you that I’m physically better than anyone in the middleweight division today,” Souza said. “I’m training, running, jumping. I’m healthier and physically better than anyone in this division.

Whenever they book the fight, and I’m sure it’s going to be for the belt, I’ll start my camp. No one has earned it more than me.

I’m just waiting for the call from the UFC. I believe they will look at it in a meritocracy aspect, and it can’t be anyone but me. I’m waiting for the date.”

060416-UFC-Michael-Bisping-1.vadapt.664.high.51[1]Many of those who sit atop the UFC’s middleweight rankings have been clamoring for a shot at current champion Michael Bisping, underestimating the Englishman and viewing him as somewhat of a mediocre champion.

‘Jacare’, however, will not make the same mistake that former champion Luke Rockhold did, and will take Bisping very seriously if the two find themselves squaring off inside the Octagon with one another:

“I never underestimate anyone, and won’t underestimate Bisping,” he said. “I don’t know why everybody is calling him out when they won’t deserve to fight him.

They don’t know where they are going when they didn’t even earn it. Dan Henderson is way behind, there’s no possibility he fights Bisping. It’s disrespectful to both of us, the No. 1 contender and the champion.

I honestly don’t give a damn (about Henderson). I think it would be wonderful if he fought for a title before retiring, but not in front of me. You have to earn it. Beat a top of the division first.

He’s coming off many losses. If he wants to fight Bisping, he has to wait for his turn. Dan Henderson can’t fight for the title. It’s impossible. It won’t happen.”

With talk of former welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre nearing an Octagon return, and possibly in the 185-pound division, there’s a strong probability that the Canadian phenom could get an immediate title shot upon his middleweight debut:

“St-Pierre never fought at middleweight. I don’t know what he’s doing here,” said the Brazilian. “To me, he’s a chicken. If I get him, I’ll break him in half.

He’s retired and wants to fight for the title in a division he never fought before? He always ran away from Anderson (Silva), ran from fighting at 185, and now he wants the belt?

Look, I’ll give him this chance, and it’s going to be easy for me,” he continued. “I would pass on fighting for the belt only to fight him if he moves up.

He’s a chicken. If he wants to move up, I would let Bisping for later, since I know I’m the next in line. If he wants to move up, I want him. I will break his neck.”

georges st-pierreWhile a title shot for Souza would certainly make sense, 185-pound champion Bisping has stated that ‘nobody cares’ about the Brazilian and that a fight with the No. 3-ranked middleweight just wouldn’t sell as much.

Souza responded to this by stating he has no shortage of fans and is ready to fight, selling some pay-per-views (PPVs) in the process:

“People have no idea what they are talking about. I don’t know where they got that from,” “Jacare” said. “I fought (Gegard) Mousasi in the United States and the whole crowd was in my favor.

I fought the most popular fighter in Brazil, who is also very popular around the world, and the whole crowd was rooting for me. Fans are supporting me on social media. Aside from that, I’m ready to fight and ready to sell pay-per-views.”

How does GSP stack up against the upper echelon of the 185-pound division? Do you think ‘Jacare’ is next in line for a shot at the gold?

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Five Crucial Reasons To Watch UFC 198

What started out as a mere Fight Night card is now a massive PPV event that has the potential to be one of the biggest of the year. UFC 198 takes place live from Curitiba, Brazil, tonight (Sat., May 14, 2016) at the Arena de Baixada in the first soccer stadium event in UFC history.

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What started out as a mere Fight Night card is now a massive PPV event that has the potential to be one of the biggest of the year. UFC 198 takes place live from Curitiba, Brazil, tonight (Sat., May 14, 2016) at the Arena de Baixada in the first soccer stadium event in UFC history.

The card features huge Brazilian names and legends such as Vitor Belfort, Shogun Rua, Demian Maia, and the UFC debut of Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino. The colossal Brazil event is headlined by a championship bout between current heavyweight king Fabricio Werdum, and top contender Stipe Miocic.

With all that being said, let’s take a look at the five crucial reasons you should watch UFC 198…

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