‘Jacare’ On GSP Moving To Middleweight: ‘I’ll Break His Neck’

Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza is one of the most dominant 185-pound fighters on the planet, and he proved it by obliterating former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in the first round of their co-main event bout at UFC 198 this past May.

The No. 3-ranked middleweight could be next in line for a shot at the 185-pound crown, and in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, the surging Brazilian stated that he believes he’s leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else in the talented 185-pound pool:

“I can guarantee you that I’m physically better than anyone in the middleweight division today,” Souza said. “I’m training, running, jumping. I’m healthier and physically better than anyone in this division.

Whenever they book the fight, and I’m sure it’s going to be for the belt, I’ll start my camp. No one has earned it more than me.

I’m just waiting for the call from the UFC. I believe they will look at it in a meritocracy aspect, and it can’t be anyone but me. I’m waiting for the date.”

Many of those who sit atop the UFC’s middleweight rankings have been clamoring for a shot at current champion Michael Bisping, underestimating the Englishman and viewing him as somewhat of a mediocre champion.

”’Jacare’, however, will not make the same mistake that former champion Luke Rockhold did, and will take Bisping very seriously if the two find themselves squaring off inside the Octagon with one another:

“I never underestimate anyone, and won’t underestimate Bisping,” he said. “I don’t know why everybody is calling him out when they won’t deserve to fight him.

They don’t know where they are going when they didn’t even earn it. Dan Henderson is way behind, there’s no possibility he fights Bisping. It’s disrespectful to both of us, the No. 1 contender and the champion.

I honestly don’t give a damn (about Henderson). I think it would be wonderful if he fought for a title before retiring, but not in front of me. You have to earn it. Beat a top of the division first.

He’s coming off many losses. If he wants to fight Bisping, he has to wait for his turn. Dan Henderson can’t fight for the title. It’s impossible. It won’t happen.”

With talk of former welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre nearing an Octagon return, and possibly in the 185-pound division, there’s a strong probability that the Canadian phenom could get an immediate title shot upon his middleweight debut:

“St-Pierre never fought at middleweight. I don’t know what he’s doing here,” said the Brazilian. “To me, he’s a chicken. If I get him, I’ll break him in half.

He’s retired and wants to fight for the title in a division he never fought before? He always ran away from Anderson (Silva), ran from fighting at 185, and now he wants the belt?

Look, I’ll give him this chance, and it’s going to be easy for me,” he continued. “I would pass on fighting for the belt only to fight him if he moves up.

He’s a chicken. If he wants to move up, I would let Bisping for later, since I know I’m the next in line. If he wants to move up, I want him. I will break his neck.”

While a title shot for Souza would certainly make sense, 185-pound champion Bisping has stated that ‘nobody cares’ about the Brazilian and that a fight with the No. 3-ranked middleweight just wouldn’t sell as much.

Souza responded to this by stating he has no shortage of fans and is ready to fight, selling some pay-per-views (PPVs) in the process:

“People have no idea what they are talking about. I don’t know where they got that from,” “Jacare” said. “I fought (Gegard) Mousasi in the United States and the whole crowd was in my favor.

I fought the most popular fighter in Brazil, who is also very popular around the world, and the whole crowd was rooting for me. Fans are supporting me on social media. Aside from that, I’m ready to fight and ready to sell pay-per-views.”

How does GSP stack up against the upper echelon of the 185-pound division? Do you think ‘Jacare’ is next in line for a shot at the gold?