Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza may steer clear of the free agency market.
The last fight on Souza’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract takes place this Saturday night (April 15). “Jacare” will battle Robert Whittaker inside the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The middleweight scrap is going to be part of UFC on FOX 24’s main card.
This week, Souza’s manager Gilberto Faria said his fighter had a new contract with the UFC as a top priority after his bout with Whittaker. During a recent open workout session, Souza spoke to the media. Besides talking about his fight with Whittaker, “Jacare” also discussed his contract situation and his fighting future.
Souza said he’s approaching a new deal with the UFC (via MMAFighting.com):
“It’s pretty close, we’re working the numbers. We’re very, very close to signing a deal, very close to what they’re asking for. I’m ready for a challenge, and I cannot sit in my home and wait for Bisping, because Bisping is a disaster for the middleweight division. Right now we need fights, me, Romero, Luke [Rockhold], [Gegard] Mousasi, we need to stay in the Octagon, (it’s) the best. Because Bisping, he don’t want to fight. He don’t want to fight any tough opponent. He’s afraid.”