UFC on FX 8 results/photos: Ronaldo Souza makes easy work of Chris Camozzi

JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil – One of the most anticipated UFC debuts in years didn’t disappoint.

Ronaldo Souza made easy work of Chris Camozzi, locking up an arm-triangle choke in the first round that quickly had the American losing consciousness. “Jacare” won in front of his home Brazilian fans at the 3:37 mark – then started thinking about a fight against one of his country’s legends or the man who once took his Strikeforce title.

The middleweight bout co-headlined Saturday’s UFC on FX 8 event at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It aired on FX following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Camozzi put together a quick combination, but was countered by a Souza right hand. Forty seconds in, Souza tied Camozzi up and looked for a takedown to get into his world on the ground. But Camozzi defended and was able to break apart.

But he was rocked by a Souza right hand and taken down. As Souza worked to pass Camozzi’s guard, he landed some good shots from up top. But midway through the frame, “Jacare” jumped to side control. When Camozzi tried to roll out, Souza looked for an omoplata. Camozzi survived for the time being, but it wouldn’t be for long.

Back in side control, Souza easily jumped to mount. He then moved back to side control, trapped Camozzi’s right arm by his neck, locked up the arm-triangle choke and the fight was stopped as Camozzi started to go out.

The former Strikeforce middleweight champion said after the fight he wants to fight the winner of the middleweight main event between Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold, who took his Strikeforce belt in September 2011. He also thanked the crowd for making first-time UFC jitters a myth, at least for him.

“Everyone was asking if I was going to get the jitters, but I didn’t because of the crowd – the crowd has been fantastic,” Souza said. “We were grappling, and I was waiting for him to give me the opportunity. I saw his neck, and I just went for it.”

Souza (18-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) won for the fourth straight time since losing to Rockhold. Camozzi (19-6 MMA, 6-3 UFC), who moved up from a fight against Rafael Natal when Constantinos Philippou had to pull out three weeks ago, had a four-fight win streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FX 8 results include:

• Ronaldo Souza def. Chris Camozzi via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:37
• Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Rafael Natal def. Joao Zeferino via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
• Nik Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
• Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:08
• Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:34
• Paulo Thiago def. Michel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:31
• Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollett via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)
• John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:07
• Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via KO (punch) – Round 3, 0:13

For the latest on UFC on FX 8, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Jaragua do Sul.