41-year-old Brazilian MMA fighter Ronaldo Jacare Souza (26-10-0, 1 NC) decided to retire after four defeats in a row and the expiration of his contract with the UFC. Probably the most difficult defeat was the last one in May against Andrea Muniz. Souza was defeated by submission for the first time in his MMA career and suffered a severe arm fracture. Still, the Brazilian claims the broken arm had nothing to do with his decision to retire from MMA.
”I fought for many years, but I was no longer motivated and that’s why I decided it was enough. At the moment I don’t think about returning to the fights and I believe that I won’t think about it in the future either. I definitely retired. I hope fans will remember me as someone who never gave up. In victories or defeats, I always kept fighting. I would like to be remembered as someone who really took part in the battles, ” Jacare explained the reason for his retirement for MMA Fighting.
Ronaldo Souza in the period from 2013 to 2017 had as many as seven victories in eight UFC appearances, and the only defeat was inflicted on him by Yoel Romero by a divided and somewhat controversial refereeing decision. Still, the Brazilian BJJ master has never fought for the UFC championship belt. In April 2017, just two months after winning against Tim Boetsch, Jacare was knocked out in the first round by later champion Robert Whittaker. There are many who felt that Souza should not even have accepted that fight, but should have waited for the opportunity to attack the title. The Brazilian looked back at the whole situation.
”I don’t want to think too much about things that have happened in the past, I’m always looking to the future. I think people who talk too much about history are actually afraid of their future. But I believe I made a mistake, as did the people who were with me. I could step aside and say I would wait for the opportunity to go for the UFC belt. That didn’t happen, but it’s not worth crying. Mistakes have been made and that’s just the way it is. ”, Added Jacare, who earlier in his career, in 2010 to be precise, won the Strikeforce middleweight belt and managed to defend it once.
One of the greatest BJJ stars in MMA has already announced that he will dedicate himself to BJJ and plans to do some performances in the sport where it all started for him. It’s a shame the Brazilian never got a chance to attack the UFC belt, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s still one of the greatest MMA fighters.
