Ronaldo Souza also known in the fighting World as “Jacaré” is one of the best middleweight competitors of his generation in mixed martial arts (MMA), being also a legendary Brazilian jiu jitsu champion who holds wins over some of the best grapplers to have graced the sport. His BJJ titles include: World Championship (open weight division), World Cup and ADCC.
Ronaldo Jacare Souza Jiu Jitsu
Full Name: Ronaldo Souza dos Santos
Nickname:“Jacaré” means aligator which is the symbol of the ASLE jiu jitsu and judo team, a team where Ronaldo first started competing in combat sports. Souza was ASLE’s most prolific competitor, living inside the gym for a big part of his life while also helping the coaching of others. Due to his strong ties with the academy, some started calling him Jacare. Many also call him “Jaca” which is short for Jacaré.
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Reyson Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Henrique Machado > Ronaldo Souza
Main Achievements (BJJ/Grappling):
- IBJJF World Champion (2004*/2005** black belt, 2003/2002 brown belt, 2001** purple belt)
- CBJJO World Cup Champion (2004** black belt)
- ADCC champion (2005)
- CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2004 black belt, 2002** brown belt)
- IBJJF European Open Champion (2005 black belt)
- ADCC Superfight Champion (2009 against Robert Drysdale)
- IBJJF World Championship Runner-up (2002* brown belt)
- IBJJF European Open Championship Runner-up (2005* black belt)
- CBJJ Brazilian National Championship 3rd Place (2001 purple belt)
*Absolute
**Weight and absolute
Favorite Position/Technique: Guard Passing
Weight Division: Meio Pesado 88kg/194lbs
Association/Team: ASLE (BJJ)
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Biography
Ronaldo Souza dos Santos aka “Jacare” was born on the 7th of December, 1979 and contrary to common belief, he was born in Vila Velha, not Manaus, and lived in Cariacica until he was 15 in the Brazilian State of Espirito Santo. As a child, like most Brazilian kids, Ronaldo was a big football/Soccer fan and played competitively in the Goalkeeper position.
Souza did not have an easy upbringing living a less than righteous life in his teens. On the day of his 15th birthday he witnessed one of his best friends get shot and die in front of him. After this terrible event Jacare’s mom moved him to Manaus in the Amazon to go and live with his brother. It was there, around two years after the shooting incident, that Ronaldo would meet his master Henrique Machado. Machado, a BJJ black belt under Osvaldo Alves and also a 5th dan in Judo immediately saw potential in this young 50kg kid and decided to take him under his wing. As Jacare had a precarious lifestyle Master Machado took him under his wing and into home, teaching him every day and giving Souza the right nutrition while preparing him mentally for competition.
The relationship between the two started when Henrique invited Ronaldo to train Jiu-Jitsu after seeing him playing soccer on the streets. Ronaldo accepted the challenge even though he complained that he didn’t like the sport – “too much man hugging” – he said jokingly. After getting a true beating in his first class, Souza’s competitive edge came alight and he came back for more. With time little Ronaldo was hooked to the sport.
Soon after, the ASLE academy was formed with Henrique Machado at the helm and Ronaldo Souza as one of their prodigal athletes. A.S.L.E stands for “Associação Sensei de Lutas Esportivas” (Sensei Fighting Sports Association). The ASLE team eventually joined Master Team (which became Brasa at a later stage), this merge meant that the ASLE fighters had stronger logistics when competing internationally. Brasa was a well known and structured team that offered a lot to a small up and coming gym such as ASLE, such as a place to stay when competing in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo as well as extra training partners with international experience.
After winning several state championships in the lower belts, Jacare’s rise to fame came with the 2003 World Championships Brown Belt Division, in which Jacare won his weight division and the absolute, submitting all but one fighter. On that same year Jacare Souza was awarded his Black Belt by the hands of Master Machado. Jacare also has a Black belt in Judo, although it is unclear in what year he received it.
In 2003 he tried his luck in MMA for the first time against the very experienced Jorge Patino, he lost the fight by TKO, but learned from the experience. He wasn’t ready for a main event in MMA just yet, so he waited another year to prepare before returning to the rings.
In 2004 Jacare went to the World Championships as a black belt, and although he was still a newbie as a Black Belt the show he had provided the previous year gave him already a certain star status and some of the media classified him as one of the favorites to win. Ronaldo Souza put on another good performance placing 2nd on his weight class and winning the most prestigious gold medal in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the Mundial Absolute (Open Weight) Division, taking the final bout against his nemesis Roger Gracie despite an injured arm due to an armbar from roger half way through the fight. In an interview given to Portal do Vale Tudo in 2007, Jacare discussed the injury stating that the armbar caused all of his ligaments to hyper extend, it also dislocated his elbow and ruptured his muscle detaching it from the bone… But it was more then worth it!
2005 Came with another fantastic year for Ronaldo Jacare, winning the ADCC in his weight division (87kg) and placing second in the absolute losing to Roger Gracie. Later that year he also managed to match his prowess of 2003 at the World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships with double gold in his weight class (medium heavy) and the absolute black belt division.
Jacaré changed his focus to MMA following a professional mixed martial arts career. He took a little break to make one incursion in the super fight of ADCC (2009) against Robert Drysdale, a match he won on points, but returned to his MMA training straight after. In 2010 he finally achieved his first MMA belt after defeating Tim Kennedy for the Strikeforce Middleweight Title.
Ronaldo Jacare Souza also has a brother who fights in Both BJJ and MMA, his name is Renato Souza.
Ronaldo Souza Grappling Record
47 WINS
- BY POINTS
19 (40 %)
- BY ADVANTAGES
0 (0 %)
- BY SUBMISSION
27 (57 %)
- BY DECISION
0 (0 %)
- BY PENALTIES
1 (2 %)
- BY DQ
0 (0 %)
27 SUBMISSIONS WINS
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
6 LOSSES
- BY POINTS
4 (67 %)
- BY ADVANTAGES
1 (17 %)
- BY SUBMISSION
1 (17 %)
- BY DECISION
0 (0 %)
- BY PENALTIES
0 (0 %)
- BY DQ
0 (0 %)
1 SUBMISSION LOSSES
(100%) SUBMISSION
Ronaldo Souza Fight History
| ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 795 | Saulo Ribeiro Saulo Ribeiro | L | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 88KG | F | 2003 |
| 1129 | Roger Gracie Roger Gracie | L | Pts: 2x0 | European Open | ABS | F | 2005 |
| 1233 | Roger Gracie Roger Gracie | L | R.N.C. | ADCC | ABS | F | 2005 |
| 1253 | Demian Maia Demian Maia | L | Adv | World Cup | 88KG | F | 2005 |
| 1269 | Alexandre Ribeiro Alexandre Ribeiro | L | Pts: 2x0 | World Cup | O75KG | F | 2005 |
| 3314 | Braulio Estima Braulio Estima | L | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | ABS | SPF | 2011 |
| 753 | Unknown | W | Points | ADCC Trials | 88KG | N.A. | 2003 |
| 755 | Fernando Margarida Fernando Margarida | W | Points | ADCC Trials | 88KG | N.A. | 2003 |
| 785 | Ryan Gracie Ryan Gracie | W | Pts: 5x0 | ADCC | 88KG | R1 | 2003 |
| 790 | Matt Lindland | W | Armbar | ADCC | 88KG | 4F | 2003 |
| 793 | Ricardo Almeida Ricardo Almeida | W | Pts: 6x0 | ADCC | 88KG | SF | 2003 |
| 974 | Delson Heleno Delson Heleno | W | Pts: 6x0 | BB Challenge 3 | 88KG | SPF | 2004 |
| 980 | Gustavo Guimaraes | W | Triangle | Golden Cup | 82KG | SF | 2004 |
| 981 | Thales Leites | W | Pts: 4x0 | Golden Cup | 82KG | F | 2004 |
| 1002 | Fabio Nascimento Fabio Nascimento | W | Choke from back | Pan American | 88KG | SF | 2004 |
| 1003 | Braulio Estima Braulio Estima | W | Flying triangle | Pan American | 88KG | F | 2004 |
| 1009 | Pascoal Castro | W | Armbar | Pan American | ABS | 8F | 2004 |
| 1010 | Fernando Piero Fernando Piero | W | Wristlock | Pan American | ABS | 4F | 2004 |
| 1014 | Todd Margolis | W | Flying triangle | Pan American | ABS | SF | 2004 |
| 1015 | Fernando Terere Fernando Terere | W | Pts: 6x0 | Pan American | ABS | F | 2004 |
| 1017 | Marcelo Garcia Marcelo Garcia | W | Pts: 3x2 | Best Fighters | ABS | SPF | 2004 |
| 1026 | Robert Fonseca | W | Kneebar | Team Nationals | 88KG | SF | 2004 |
| 1027 | Givanildo Santana Givanildo Santana | W | Armbar | Team Nationals | 88KG | F | 2004 |
| 1038 | Unknown | W | Kneebar | Brasileiro | 88KG | 4F | 2004 |
| 1039 | Givanildo Santana Givanildo Santana | W | Armbar | Brasileiro | 88KG | SF | 2004 |
| 1068 | Roger Gracie Roger Gracie | W | Pts: 4x2 | World Champ. | ABS | F | 2004 |
| 1070 | Erik Wanderlei | W | Choke | World Cup | ABS | 4F | 2004 |
| 1072 | Fabricio Werdum Fabricio Werdum | W | Pts: 10x0 | World Cup | ABS | SF | 2004 |
| 1074 | Fernando Margarida Fernando Margarida | W | Pts: 7x0 | World Cup | ABS | F | 2004 |
| 1084 | Jackson Moura | W | Triangle | World Cup | 88KG | R1 | 2004 |
| 1085 | Marco Matos | W |
Date of birth: December 7, 1979
Height: 183 cm
Ronaldo Souza is a shining example of a Brazilian grappler. He is also quite famous as an MMA fighter. He is deservedly considered one of the most best fighters BJJ. There is such a thing as the “holy trinity,” of which, along with Souza, Roger Grace and Marcelo Garcia are considered members.
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This rather ambitious and impulsive fighter is a five-time champion in BJJ, which he began training quite early, at the age of 17. At the same time, he became interested in judo.
He holds the following titles: Dream Middleweight Grand Prix finalist in 2008, ADCC champion in 2005, Strikeforce champion (from August 2010 to September 2011).
Biography of Ronaldo Souza
The athlete was born on December 7, 1979 in Villa Vella. Together with his mother, he lived in the city of Cariasica, located in the state of Espirito Santo in Brazil. Living conditions were very modest, or, more simply, poor. The area of residence could almost be called a slum. This means that he was raised mostly on the street. Constant street conflicts and showdowns left their mark on the boy’s character and behavior.
When he was already 15 years old, he accidentally witnessed the murder of a friend. Under the influence of these events, Ronaldo's mother makes a hasty decision to move to Manus Island, where her brother lived. There, two years later, his future coach Enrique Machado noticed him playing football. The agile and energetic young man seemed to him to have great fighting potential. At that time, Enrique Machado already had a black belt in judo and an absolute black belt in BJJ.
Having received an invitation to attend a BJJ training session, the young man was not particularly delighted, as he considered this type of martial arts to be too contact-heavy, but he came to the training session. There he was given a test fight, with a completely devastating result. The future coach correctly calculated that the young man’s wounded pride would not allow him to simply come to terms with it.
Naturally, the desire to get even and win next time made this hot young man come again and again... Interest appeared. Soon, the “Associacao Sensei de Lutas Esportivas” academy was created. The coach supported his ward in every possible way, since due to poverty, the young man was deprived of even constant food. They experienced all the successes and troubles together. Subsequently, the academy was joined to the Master Team and received the name Brasa.
At the World Championships in 2001, which was held between purple belt holders, the guy wins a well-deserved victory. Due to his explosive nature, Ronaldo Souza received the nickname "Alligator", "Jacare".
In 2003, after participating in a brown belt competition, he won and received a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Then the thought appears to try your luck in mixed martial arts. And the first experience was unsuccessful.
And, in 2004, he already stood on the podium, and there was a champion medal on his chest. And it seemed like nothing at all that I had to finish the fight with one hand, since the other was injured.
After subsequent, breathtaking victories, Ronaldo devotes himself entirely to mixed martial arts. His career is going quite well, turning a once poor but impulsive boy from the slums into a real legend of fighting sports.
Ronaldo Souza (born December 7, 1979) is a Brazilian MMA fighter and grappler currently competing in the UFC middleweight division. Souza is a former Strikeforce middleweight champion and has also competed in promotions such as DREAM and Jungle Fight. He ranks fourth in the UFC middleweight rankings.
The athlete was born on December 7, 1979 in Villa Velha, Brazil. Souza had a difficult childhood, and when the boy was 15 years old, his friend was shot dead in front of his eyes. After this event, the boy's mother sent him to Manaus to live with his brother, where he began to practice judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At that time, Ronaldo was 17 years old. Souza is a five-time BJJ World Champion and won gold medals in the open weight division in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He is also the ADCC champion in the weight category up to 87 kg (2005). Along with Roger Gracie and Marcelo Garcia, Souza is considered one of the best BJJ practitioners currently available.
Souza made his MMA debut in September 2003 at Jungle Fight 1 and lost by knockout to Jorge Patino in the first round. He returned 8 months later at Jungle Fight 2 and defeated Viktor Babkir by submission early in the first round. Next fight He spent April 2006 at Jungle Fight 6 and defeated Alexander Shlemenko by submission. In 2006, he fought 2 more fights, winning both fights by submission in the first round.
In 2006, Souza wrestled UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture in a grappling match. The result was a draw, and after this fight Souza was invited to train at the Couture gym. Souza accepted the offer and began training at the Xtreme Couture camp in Las Vegas. In May 2007, Souza fought with Bill Vuchik at the Gracie tournament. Fighting Championship s: Evolution, and won by submission. After that, he would compete twice more in 2007 and defeat his opponents ahead of schedule in the first round.
In 2008, Souza signed a contract with the Japanese promotion DREAM, and was scheduled to compete in the 2008 DREAM Grand Prix. In April 2008 at DREAM 2, he defeated Ian Murphy by submission in the first round. In the quarterfinals at DREAM 4, he faced ICON Sport Middleweight Champion Jason "Mayhem" Miller and won by unanimous decision, advancing to the Grand Prix semifinals.
In the semi-finals, which took place on September 23 at DREAM 6, Souza defeated Zelga Galesic by submission in the first round, but in the final the Brazilian lost to Gegard Mousasi by knockout, missing a powerful upkick.
Soon after, Souza left the Xtreme Couture gym and went to San Diego to train with Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, and then "Jacare" began training with Anderson Silva and Andre Galvao at the famous Black House camp, helping "The Spider" prepare for a fight with Thales Leites at UFC 97.
Souza fought for the DREAM middleweight title in a rematch with Jason Miller at DREAM 9 after Mousasi left the title vacant and moved up to light heavyweight. However, the fight was marked as a "no contest" due to an illegal head kick, which was the result of a serious cut on Souza's head.
Souza made his Strikeforce debut in December 2009 at Strikeforce: Evolution, scoring a first-round submission win over Matt Lindland. In this fight, Souza showed significant improvements in his stand-up striking technique.
In May 2010, Souza faced Joey Villaseñor in the cage at the Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery tournament. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
In August 2010, "Jacare" fought Tim Kennedy at Strikeforce: Houston for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title, and won by unanimous decision. Souza then defended his title against Robbie Lawler in January 2011 at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg.
In his second title defense, Souza lost his championship to American Kickboxing Academy fighter Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision.
On March 3, 2012, Souza fought his sixth fight in Strikeforce, against replacement Bristol Marunde. Souza won by submission in the third round.
On August 18, 2012, Souza fought with Derek Brunson. Souza won by knockout in the first round. Souza faced UFC veteran Ed Herman in the cage at final tournament Strikeforce, Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine in January 2013. He won by submission in the first round.
In January 2013, Souza signed a 5-fight contract with the UFC.
Souza was expected to make his UFC debut against Costas Philippou in May 2013 at UFC on FX 8, but Philippou pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Chris Camozzi. Souza won by submission in the first round.
In September 2013, Ronaldo Souza knocked out Yushin Okami at UFC Fight Night 28.
In February 2014, Souza defeated Francis Carmont by decision at UFC Fight Night 36.
In September 2014, at UFC Fight Night 50, Souza met Gegard Mousasi in the Octagon and won by submission in the third round, simultaneously receiving a bonus for “Performance of the Night.”
Souza was expected to face Yoel Romero in February 2015 at UFC 184. However, “Jacare” pulled out of the fight in January due to pneumonia. The fight was rescheduled for April 2015 at UFC on Fox 15. However, this time Romero withdrew from the fight due to a knee injury. Instead, Souza faced Chris Camozzi in the cage and submitted him in the first round.
The fight with Romero for the third time was rescheduled for December 12, 2012 at UFC 194. Souza lost by split decision. However, many media resources considered this decision unfair.
On May 14, 2016, Souza faced Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 and won via TKO in the first round, earning a Performance of the Night bonus along the way.
Souza was expected to fight Luke Rockhold in a rematch in November 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101, but the fight was canceled after Rockhold suffered an injury.
Souza will return to the cage on February 11, 2017 at UFC 208 and will fight Tim Boetsch.
Ronaldo Souza is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter and mixed styles fighting in the middle weight rank. He was a world champion in Brazilian jujitsu many times, and a laureate of the grappling AD CC championship. Since 2003 it has been published on professional rings MMA is popular for its participation in the fights of the wrestling associations UFC, Strikeforce, Dream, Jungle Fight. He held the title of Strikeforce champion in the middle rank.
Fighter parameters
Physical data of Jacare Souza: height - 184 cm, weight - 83.5 kg, arm span - 183 cm.
Biography
Data from Wikipedia about Ronaldo Sousa Jacare: full name - Ronaldo Sousa dos Santos, pseudonym Jacare - alligator in Portuguese.
Born on December 7, 1979 in Brazil, in Villa Velha, Espirita Santa district; lives in Manaus. From the biography of the fighter Jacar Souza, the following can be noted: he spent his childhood in Cariasik, in his youth he was fond of football, and was a goalkeeper. He grew up in the slums, where there was a high degree of crime (fights, gunshots, stabbings). He moved to Manaus with his mother and brother. From the age of seventeen he began attending training in jiu-jitsu and judo.
Beginning of a professional career
Jacare Souza has repeatedly emerged victorious and received prizes in martial arts in Brazilian jujitsu at the height of a master. His debut triumph in this area occurred in 2001 - in Rio de Janeiro at the World Championships. Then Souza earned two highest awards- for victories in the middle and welterweight divisions (purple belt).
In subsequent seasons, Sousa the Alligator (Jacare) appeared 
winner of world tournaments (brown belt). 2004 and 2005 - three gold medals for victories at the world championship (black belt).
Success did not leave him at the AD-CC grappling competitions in Abu Dhabi - two awards - gold (2005/2009) and three - silver (2003-2005-2011). Souza is recognized as a top-notch jiu-jitsu fighter - compare Roger Gracie and Marcelo Garcia.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Jacare Souza, with his string of winning performances since 2008, aroused the interest of the famous association in Japan Dream and, as a result, accepted an invitation to contribute to the Grand Prix and emerged triumphant over the first three opponents ( average weight). In the fight for the championship title he lost by knockout to Gegard Moussasi. Then, in a fight with Jason Miller for the same championship belt, he received a cut due to a missed illegal kick to the head and was unable to fight further - the fight was declared invalid.
Since 2009, Ronaldo Souza dos Santos has been in the Strikeforce league - in the fight for the championship title he emerged victorious in battles with the following fighters: Matt Lindland, Joey Villaseñor, Tim Kennedy, Robbin Lawler. But in the fall of 2011 he lost the championship title to Luke Rockhold - he lost by unanimous decision. Following this, he successfully won the next three high-rated fights in Strikeforce.
With a career record of 17/3, Ronaldo in 2013 entered into an agreement with the popular world association Ultimate Fighting Championship. In the UFC, he was a leader for a long period: he beat Chris Camozzi twice, dominated Yushin Okami by technical knockout, defeated Francis Carmona by unanimous decision, and triumphed in a guillotine rematch over Gegard Mousasi. Souza became the undisputed nominee for the champion belt, but in the winter of 2015, in a fight with Yoel Romer, he lost by a split decision. And in the spring of 2016, he again became a leader - he defeated Vitor Belfort by technical knockout in the first round.
Last Stand
Ronaldo Souza's last fight took place on November 4, 2018 in New York. Jacare prevailed over former champion Chris Wideman. In the first round, Chris had superior accuracy in punches, but from the second round Ronaldo seized the advantage - he imposed and won an exchange of blows. In the last five minutes, Souza sent Wideman to the Octagon floor with a tangential right hand to the head. Chris was practically already knocked out, but since the referee did not stop the fight, Jacare was forced to hit several more times before his victory was declared.
Next fight
It is not yet known when Jacare Souza’s next fight will take place. Ronaldo stated:
"One hundred percent, my next step should be title fight. I deserve a title shot - I want to fight the winner of the Whittaker/Gastelum fight and crush him. I intend to get this fight."
