Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza Confirms Retirement From UFC, MMA

Former Strikeforce champion and UFC contender Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has retired from MMA.

Souza confirmed the news via Combate. 

“I’ve already fought too much,” Souza said. “I’ve retired too young from jiu-jitsu, and I think I’ve fought too much in MMA and I have no plans to go back to fighting.

“It’s really over. I’m retiring from MMA.”

Souza, though, is going to continue competing, as he plans to make a return to jiu-jitsu.

“I’m going back to the sport where I made history, the sport I love so much,” he said. “I’m returning to training. I’ll go back to competing (in jiu-jitsu). I’m driven by challenges, and jiu-jitsu is becoming a challenge to me because it’s evolving so much.”

Souza claimed the Strikeforce title in 2010 with a decision victory over Tim Kennedy. He made a successful defense before falling to Luke Rockhold and losing the belt.

The 41-year-old also was the runner-up at the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix. 

Souza dropped four consecutive bouts to end his career, finishing 26-10 with a no-contest. His last win came in 2018 when he knocked out Chris Weidman at UFC 230.

Among his career highlights were also wins over Derek Brunson, Vitor Belfort, Gegard Mousasi and Robbie Lawler.