Ronaldo Souza Will Fight in the UFC, Win or Lose at Last Strikeforce Event

By John Heinis on January 12, 2013

Mark off Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Ronaldo Souza as another Strikeforce fighter making his way to the Octagon this year.

Josuel Distak, Souza’s trainer at the X-Gym, made the announcement in an interview with Sherdog Thursday.

“Jacare is now a UFC fighter and signed a five-fight contract. The result of the fight against Herman will be the basis for choice of his debut opponent in the UFC, which I think will be in April."

As Distak notes, Souza is fighting on the final Strikeforce card this Saturday, with the luxury of facing a UFC veteran in Ed Herman. “Jacare” was briefly linked to a fight with Lorenz Larkin, but Larkin withdrew due an injury and “Short Fuse” was tapped as his replacement.

Distak also told fans not to count on Souza fighting former Black House MMA teammate/friend Anderson Silva, who also happens to the long-reigning UFC middleweight champion, anytime soon.

"Jacare has a career to tread in the UFC yet; do not think about it for a while. Jacare is going there to make his [own] history."

The two-time Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling (no-gi jiu-jitsu) champion has won six of his past seven fights, his only loss coming in a Strikeforce title fight against Luke Rockhold, which was a closely contested bout.

Fight fans, how does Jacare match up against some of the UFC’s best 185-pounders such as Vitor Belfort, Michael Bisping, Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman?