(Hey Strikeforce, give this man a fight already. When does Chael get back?)
Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is not happy with his lack of activity the past year and he’s hoping the UFC’s purchase of the California-based promotion will remedy the frustrating situation.
The decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has not fought since defeating Robbie Lawler in January Lawler has only fought three times in the past 365 days including his championship win over Tim Kennedy last August that saw him take home the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title relinquished by Jake Shields when he moved over to the UFC.
He tells Tatame that he just wants to fight and no matter who it’s against or where or when the bout takes place, he’d just be happy knowing there’s a fight for him on the horizon.
“I want to fight as soon as possible. I don’t fight for a long time and I’m upset about it. For one who works for fighting, not fighting for a long time, when you’re ready to go, is the worst thing that can happen. I had to stop for about a month or two, but I already was good to go, and didn’t know when I would fight again. I’m looking forwards to know when I’ll be fighting and then I’ll tell you guys. There’re many good athletes [for me to face]. Strikeforce is one of the greatest events on earth, so I’m cool with anyone they tell me to fight against. As a Strikeforce employee what I really want is to fight.”
According to Jacare, the problem stems from Strikeforce’s lack of organization.
“I guess they’re not very well organized. When UFC bought the event, they were hoping that the guys got things fixed. I don’t know [if they will merge the two organizations]. The only thing I do know is that I’m a Strikeforce employee, and I hope that maybe someday I will fight in [the UFC]. I believe that could happen. Every fighter’s wish is to fight in the best event in the world, but Strikeforce is a big event and I can’t complain about it. I’m glad to be fighting in Strikeforce.”
As far as a potential unification bout with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva — a fighter Souza knows well having trained with him extensively at Blackhouse Gym in Brazil — Souza is somewhat lukewarm on the notion.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I guess that since we are training partners, there’s no point in fighting each other, even though we fight everyday here at the gym, so that’s what I have to say about that.”
It sounds like he’s learned from Vitor Belfort’s mistake of calling out a Blackhouse teammate.
As we suggested during last week’s episode of The Bum Rush, maybe Strikeforce could become MMA’s version of the “Island of Misfit Toys,” where outcasts like Paul Daly, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping et al go to fight. Just a thought.
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Strikeforce hit us with another night of fun finishes and very few surprises on Saturday night, as both champs retained their titles and a Heisman Trophy-winning running back beat up the guy who was hired solely to get beat up by a Heisman Trophy-winning running back.
Strikeforce middleweight champion