Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is an undisputed legend of BJJ and that status was hard-earned after numerous IBJJF World Championship wins on his trip through the colored belts, and three at black belt. He also won an ADCC World Championship and was at one point, the superfight champion too during the early days of his MMA career. What really set him apart from the field of competitors was his epic set of matches with one of the greatest BJJ competitors of all time, Roger Gracie. Not only is he one of only four men to ever defeat Roger, he actually beat him twice in four matches across his career and did so being significantly lighter than the legendary Gracie family member.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza opened up about his thoughts as he approaches the end of his long MMA career, and his upcoming fight with Robert Whittaker:
“Oh, man, I’m motivated in fighting, that doesn’t demotivate me at all. I’m motivated by the challenge that my opponent brings. The belt is the consequence. I’m a believer in God, everybody knows that. When I’m choosing my fight, I put a knee on the ground and ask for God to choose a fight for me, and it’s happening.”
“I’m happy to be fighting. But I have no problem stopping fighting. I stopped competing in jiu-jitsu in 2005 when I was at the top of my career, and if I think it’s too much for me, that I’m full of it, I can stop fighting. That’s it. I can open my own gym, make as much money as I make fighting, and be happy. I have this dream of having my own gym, so I have no problem stopping fighting.”
“No, it doesn’t go through my mind to stop fighting, but if I get full of it, I can stop fighting. I can teach. I have this leverage. And I’m sure, I’ll have a lot of students. Do the math, 400 students training with me.”
It’s hard to argue with his statements really. Just by virtue of his name alone, any academy that Jacare opens will be bursting at the seams with students eager to learn from one of the greatest athletes ever to have set foot on the mats.
