Ronaldo Souza

Ronaldo Souza dos Santos (born December 7, 1979), nicknamed "Jacare", is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist, submission grappler and 4th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt.

Souza was a multiple time BJJ World champion in coloured belts before becoming a two-time black belt World Champion, ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion, CBJJO World Cup Champion, Brazilian National Champion and European Open Champion.

He was inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class due to his achievements in the sport.

Souza transitioned to MMA in 2003, competing for UFC from 2013 to 2021.

A highly regarded grappler on the world stage, Souza is a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, and has also formerly competed for DREAM and Jungle Fight.

Souza was born in Vila Velha, Brazil, into a cafuzo family and was raised in Cariacica, Brazil.

Souza had a rough upbringing, and on the day he turned 15, he saw one of his good friends get shot to death.

After this event, Souza's mother moved him to Manaus to go and live with his brother and he started training in Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he was 17.

He is an eight-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, including gold medals in the Openweight class in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Souza made his mixed martial arts debut on September 9, 2003, at Jungle Fight's inaugural event where he lost to Jorge "Macaco" Patino by KO at 3:13 into the first round.

He returned to mixed martial arts eight months later at Jungle Fight 2 securing a submission win over Victor Babkir under a minute into the first round.

His other credentials include the 2005 77–87 kg ADCC Champion and the 2005 ADCC Absolute Division runner-up, only losing to Roger Gracie who outweighed him by approximately 25 lbs.

Along with Roger Gracie and Marcelo Garcia, Souza is widely considered to be among the greatest BJJ practitioners of his time.

His next fight was in April 2006 at Jungle Fight 6 where he got his second win, defeating Alexander Shlemenko by an arm triangle choke submission.

He went on to fight twice before the end of 2006, winning both fights by submission during the first round.

In 2006, Souza fought and drew with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture in a grappling contest.

After the match Souza was invited by Couture to train at his gym.

Souza accepted and started training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

Souza's first fight of 2007 was on May 19 with him scoring a submission win due to strikes over veteran Bill Vucick at Gracie Fighting Championships: Evolution.

He would next fight twice within a two-week period on September 29 and October 13, scoring two submission wins both within the first round.

In 2008, Souza signed with Japanese MMA-promotion DREAM and was scheduled to participate in the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand-Prix.

In the first round of the tournament, at DREAM 2 on April 29, 2008, he defeated Ian Murphy by a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

This secured him a place in the quarter-finals which took place at DREAM 4 on June 15 where he fought former ICON Sport Middleweight Champion Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

The fight went the distance with Souza continuously going for submissions with Miller escaping multiple rear-naked choke, leglock and armbar-attempts while mounting his own offense on the feet.

Souza was awarded a unanimous decision victory which secured him a place in the semi-final of the Middleweight Grand-Prix.

In the semi-finals which took place at DREAM 6 on September 23, Souza defeated Zelg Galesic early in the first round by armbar submission.

The victory earned him a place in the finals of the tournament and a shot at the DREAM Middleweight Championship against Gegard Mousasi that same night.

In the fight Souza was knocked out early in the first round by an upkick as he attempted to dive past Mousasi's guard to land a strike of his own.

After participating in the tournament, Souza left Xtreme Couture and went to San Diego to train with Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, before leaving to train with Anderson Silva and André Galvão in preparation for Silva's upcoming bout with Thales Leites at UFC 97 at Black House.

Souza fought in the DREAM Middleweight Championship in a rematch with Jason Miller at DREAM 9 after Gegard Mousasi vacated the title when moving up to Light Heavyweight.

The fight was called a no contest due to an illegal kick to the head that opened up a gash on Souza's head.

Souza made his Strikeforce debut on December 19, 2009, at Strikeforce: Evolution with a first-round submission win over Matt Lindland, via arm-triangle choke.

In this fight, Souza showed a major improvement in his stand up game and striking.

Souza faced Joey Villaseñor on May 15, 2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery.

He won the fight via unanimous decision, dominating the first round, being very aggressive, achieving the mount position and almost achieving the submission, but slowed down on the 2nd and 3rd round.

Souza fought Tim Kennedy on August 21, 2010, at Strikeforce: Houston for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship, and won via unanimous decision.

Souza then defended the belt for the first time against Robbie Lawler, on January 29, 2011, at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg.

In his second defense, Souza lost his Middleweight Championship against American Kickboxing Academy fighter Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision (50–45, 48–47, and 48–47).

On March 3, 2012, Souza made his sixth Strikeforce appearance against late replacement Bristol Marunde.

Souza won via arm-triangle choke, submitting Marunde at 2:43 of the final round.