Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza's place in the UFC's middleweight division is complicated.
The 35-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist has won eight straight fights dating back to March 2012, posting a perfect 5-0 record since stepping into the Octagon in May 2013.
He's finished four of his five fights under the UFC banner, establishing himself as a top-ranked 185-pound fighter and one of the most feared men on the UFC's stacked roster.
With that resume, he deserves a title shot, right?
Unfortunately for him, it doesn't seem the UFC sees it that way—and for good reason.
Luke Rockhold, the current top contender to middleweight champion Chris Weidman's belt, has won four straight fights of his own, all via knockout or submission. During his run, the American Kickboxing Academy product has defeated increasingly difficult competition, most recently demolishing former light heavyweight champion and middleweight title contender Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida via rear-naked choke in Round 2 at UFC on Fox 15.
Rockhold is also the last man to defeat Souza, notching a unanimous-decision victory over the Brazilian powerhouse in September 2011 when the two competed for Strikeforce.
Because of this, it will be Rockhold, not Souza, who will face Weidman next, according to a report from MMAJunkie.com.
Souza is taking the news in stride though, looking to the future and considering some interesting options for his career moving forward.
In the short term, he believes a fight with No. 3-ranked middleweight Yoel Romero makes the most sense. The two have been scheduled to fight twice already, and both times the bout fell through because of injury.
Perhaps now is the time the stars align and these two settle their score inside the cage.
"There’s no other opponent that makes sense except for Romero, so that’s a fight that might happen," Souza told media members during UFC 190 fight week in Brazil (transcription courtesy of MMAFighting.com's Guilherme Cruz). "I’m just waiting for the UFC to announce it. People always ask me who’s going to be my next opponent, and I believe it’s Romero, but I’m waiting for the announcement."
If that bout once again fails to materialize, Souza has a backup plan. He'd be willing to test his skills 20 pounds north at light heavyweight—whatever it takes to become champion.
"If the UFC sets a date with any opponent at 185 or 205 pounds, I will be ready to become the champion," Souza said. "I will be the next UFC champion, no doubt about it."
