On the main card from tonight’s (Sat. April 15, 2017) UFC on FOX 24 event from Kansas City, Missouri, a pivotal middleweight bout between No. 3-ranked Ronaldo Souza and No. 6-ranked Robert Whittaker. Jacare came into the fight on a two-fight win streak since suffering a controversial split decision loss to Yoel Romero, and Whittaker
On the main card from tonight’s (Sat. April 15, 2017) UFC on FOX 24 event from Kansas City, Missouri, a pivotal middleweight bout between No. 3-ranked Ronaldo Souza and No. 6-ranked Robert Whittaker.
Jacare came into the fight on a two-fight win streak since suffering a controversial split decision loss to Yoel Romero, and Whittaker was on an amazing six-fight win streak after having made the jump up to 185 pounds.
In the first round Souza attempted to get the fight to the ground, as expected, but Whittaker was able to keep the fight standing and scramble out of a few dangerous spots on the mat. Whittaker set up his left hook to end the round.
To open up the second round Whittaker again returned to his left hook and found a home for it multiple times, eventually rocking his Brazilian counterpart a few times. After a nasty head-kick and a few unanswered strikes on the ground, the referee waived the bout off and ‘The Reaper’ earned the biggest win of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
Whittaker officially took home a second round TKO win over Souza at the 3:28 mark.
You can check out the full fight video highlights here:
UFC on FOX 24 went down tonight (Saturday, April 15, 2017) from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. The main event featured the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, attempting to tie Anderson Silva’s consecutive title defense record at 10. Brazilian contender Wilson Reis stood in his way, but not for
UFC on FOX 24 went down tonight (Saturday, April 15, 2017) from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. The main event featured the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, attempting to tie Anderson Silva’s consecutive title defense record at 10. Brazilian contender Wilson Reis stood in his way, but not for long.
Johnson made it look easy, dancing cirlces around the challenger, battering Reis with kicks and punches. The champion was in control of every phase as Reis struggled to keep up and land anything more than occasional leg kicks. By round three, Reis was spent, and Johnson moved in for the kill. A knee to the body dropped an off-balance Reis and DJ pounced. Ground and pound followed as Johnson advanced to mount, then immediately snatched the fight-ending armbar. When Johnson next steps into the cage, he’ll be trying to break Silva’s long-standing record.
The co-main event was a strawweight contenders scrap between “Thug” Rose Namajunas and Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson. Namajunas walked through Waterson’s kicks on the feet, reveresed a head-and-arm throw to take Waterson’s back in round one, and dropped her foe with a nasty head kick in round two. Waterson recovered to some extent, but “Thug” Rose gave her no room to breathe. Namajunas jumped on Waterson’s back as she tried to stand, and finished it with the choke soon after.
Finally, former welterweight Robert Whittaker announced himself as a potential title challenger in a crowded middleweight division with an emphatic TKO over top contender Jacare Souza. The Brazilian failed to get the fight into his wheelhouse on the ground, and Whittaker made him pay. A head kick wobbled Jacare, and Whittaker followed up with punches and elbows that forced referee Mario Yamasaki to step in on Jacare’s behalf. In the aftermath, Whittaker called for a fight with Michael Bisping, who he was scheduled to fight last year before injury nixed the fight.
See how Twitter reacted to these pivotal fights below:
Tonight’s (Sat., April 15, 2017) UFC on FOX 24 is in the books from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, and the event blessed the State of Missouri with an amazing event for their first-ever UFC card. In the featured bout, longtime UFC flyweight champion Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson tied all-time greeat former middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s
Tonight’s (Sat., April 15, 2017) UFC on FOX 24 is in the books from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, and the event blessed the State of Missouri with an amazing event for their first-ever UFC card.
In the featured bout, longtime UFC flyweight champion Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson tied all-time greeat former middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s long-held string of title defenses with 10 by absolutely dominating Wilson Reis on the feet en route to as perfect an armbar submission you’ve ever seen in MMA.
In the co-main event, “Thug” Rose Namajunas returned and made an extremely strong case for another title shot by submitting formerly rising Michelle Waterson after rocking her with a huge head kick, while rising middleweight contender Robert Whittaker pulled off a shocking upset over longtime top-ranked submission wizard Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
What a night. Watch the UFC on FOX 24 post-fight press conference starting shortly after the main card right here:
For the second straight weekend, a UFC event featured a major middleweight matchup in a featured slot on the card, as renowned jiu-jitsu player Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza took on upstart Australian Robert Whittaker in Kansas City, Missouri.
The bout w…
For the second straight weekend, a UFC event featured a major middleweight matchup in a featured slot on the card, as renowned jiu-jitsu player Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza took on upstart Australian Robert Whittaker in Kansas City, Missouri.
The bout was an opportunity for both men to stake their claim to positioning in the ongoing evolution of the middleweight title picture, and it didn’t disappoint. Whittaker took advantage of the big stage of Fox on a Saturday night, taking home the biggest win of his life in a somewhat one-sided, entertaining affair.
Whittaker looked slicker and more mobile early in the first round, with Souza attempting to close distance and get his hands on the shifty former welterweight. When he eventually did, there was a heated scramble; however, Whittaker did a great job of protecting himself and getting things back upright.
It was a sign of things to come and also not something seen often—a person standing up once Souza takes them down.
When it was back on the feet it was apparent the stand-up battle was one of skill against power, as Whittaker showcased movement and a clean jab, while Souza winged power shots over the top in hopes to scoring a home run blow. The discrepancy in quickness was incredibly apparent, and after five minutes, Whittaker had secured himself a 10-9 lead.
The second was more of the same in the early going, punctuated by a savage right hand right down the middle that put Jacare on dream street. Though he shook out the cobwebs and bought himself some time, Whittaker continued to pour it on and score points with a blend of technical striking and power shots of his own.
Another knockdown moments later, and there was no chance to reset things. Whittaker landed a head kick and chased the Brazilian to the ground, where referee Mario Yamasaki eventually decided to halt things once Souza‘s defense began to lose its enthusiasm.
It was a tour de force for Whittaker, a prospect-turned-contender over the past year or so who has quite evidently found a home at 185 pounds. This win is the signature he needed to get his name in the mix with the big dogs, and a bout with Luke Rockhold or Yoel Romero might make more sense than anything at this point.
It’s also a devastating setback for Souza, who looked every bit of his 37 years in this one. It’s hard not to wonder if all the years of sitting around and waiting for others to get their title shots figured out might not have cost him his best chance to get one for himself.
He’ll need at least two wins before the end of the year to get back into title talks, and he won’t want to take a major step down in competition, so maybe a rematch with GegardMousasi or a shot at former champ Chris Weidman could work.
Ronaldo Souza won’t be hitting the free agency market after all. The No. 3-ranked middleweight is set to take on Robert Whittaker on tomorrow’s (Sat. April 15, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 card from Kansas City, Missouri, which was set to be the final bout on his UFC contract. Souza was set to hit the free
Ronaldo Souza won’t be hitting the free agency market after all.
The No. 3-ranked middleweight is set to take on Robert Whittaker on tomorrow’s (Sat. April 15, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 card from Kansas City, Missouri, which was set to be the final bout on his UFC contract. Souza was set to hit the free agency market alongside fellow top middleweight prospect Gegard Mousasi, putting two of the promotion’s best unknown 185 pounders at risk of leaving the promotion.
According to a post from Souza on social media, however, the Brazilian has signed a new eight-fight deal to keep the jiu-jitsu specialist under the UFC’s banner for the foreseeable future:
I’m very happy! New contract signed with UFC. Let’s go for some more battles! #TeamJacare
Souza is on a two-fight win streak coming off victories over Vitor Belfort and Tim Boetsch. Prior to that, Jacare had an eight-fight undefeated streak snapped after a controversial split decision loss to Yoel Romero at UFC 194 in December of 2015.
If Souza is able to earn a victory over up-and-coming Robert Whittaker coming off of two back-to-back victories, he’ll make quite the case for a shot at the middleweight title.
Robert Whittaker certainly isn’t interested in underestimating Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. This Saturday night (April 15), Whittaker and Souza will clash inside the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The middleweight tilt will be part of the main card of UFC on FOX 24. “Jacare” will be Whittaker’s highest ranked opponent. Souza sits at the third […]
Robert Whittaker certainly isn’t interested in underestimating Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. This Saturday night (April 15), Whittaker and Souza will clash inside the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The middleweight tilt will be part of the main card of UFC on FOX 24. “Jacare” will be Whittaker’s highest ranked opponent. Souza sits at the third […]
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For the second straight weekend, a UFC event featured a major middleweight matchup in a featured slot on the card, as renowned jiu-jitsu player Ronaldo “Jacare” 