Jacare

Is Jacare Souza at risk of being cut after UFC 256?

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Last weekend at UFC 256, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (26-9, 1 NC) returned to the middleweight division after a brief stop at light heavyweight in 2019. Jacare was taking on the surging Kevin Holland (21-5).

Holland had won four fights in a row in 2020, but he was looking for that signature UFC victory over Jacare. When the fight got started, things were going well for Jacare. Souza was able to catch a low kick and take Holland to the ground.

I personally predicted Jacare to submit Holland in this fight. When the fight got to the ground so quickly with both fighters dry, I figured it was bad news for Holland. However, it was quite the opposite.

Holland did a fantastic job of attacking from his back. His jiu jitsu looked slick and Jacare couldn’t get anything going. About 90 seconds into the round, Jacare landed some big shots that caused Holland to smile.

Out of no where, Holland whipped a shot from his back that hit Jacare in the forehead. Jacare was damaged by the shot and Holland got up to finish Jacare against the cage. It was the third straight UFC loss for Souza.

What’s next after UFC 256?

This was a really tough loss for Jacare Souza. At 41 years old, Jacare needed this win badly to keep his roster spot secure within the UFC. Right now, the promotion is going through an evaluation period where they are planning to make some serious cuts.

Yoel Romero was just released by the UFC a couple of weeks ago after fighting for the title in February. As mentioned, Souza is 41 years old and he’s 1-4 in his last five trips inside the octagon.

Given the current landscape of things, there might be a strong chance that we’ve seen the last of Jacare inside the UFC. For the record, I don’t believe that Jacare is done fighting, but I think the promotion might seriously look at cutting ties.

Souza fought the current UFC light heavyweight champion to a split decision a year ago. He’s definitely got something left in the tank, but if you’re a high earning veteran with no path towards the title, the promotion might part ways. Jacare would seemingly fall into that category.

Is Kevin Holland the UFC’s next star?

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Kevin Holland

This past weekend at UFC 256, Kevin Holland (21-5) took on Jacare Souza (26-9, 1 NC) on the PPV main card. It was a big step up for Holland who was looking to finish off 2020 having gone 5-0 inside the octagon.

Holland was originally supposed to face Jack Hermansson a couple of weeks ago. However, he tested positive for COVID and the UFC moved him back to face Jacare. I personally thought that Jacare would be able to get him down and give him problems in their fight.

At UFC 256, the opening moments looked like I was going to be right. Jacare was able to catch a low kick from Holland in the opening seconds and take him down. Once on the ground, Jacare was supposed to have a massive advantage.

One of the things that makes Holland so marketable is his talking inside the octagon. Jacare had him down and blasted him with a couple of massive shots. To those shots, Holland said to Jacare, “Those are great Jacare. I had a dream about this!”

To that, Jacare smiled back at Holland. However, he wasn’t smiling for very long. From his back, Holland whipped a right hand that hit Jacare on the forehead. The shot dazed Jacare and Holland got up and blasted him with a few additional shots to close the show.

The UFC’s next star?

Kevin Holland has put himself on the map here in 2020. The great thing for the UFC is the guy is extremely marketable. He has an incredibly fun fighting style and the guy knows how to sell himself.

Not only is he entertaining while inside the octagon, he puts on a complete show from the walkout to the fight. At UFC 256 he was rapping to the security guard as they walked to the cage. Then proceeded to dance with Jacare before the fight started.

Kevin Holland is knocking on the door of stardom at the moment. The guy just has that it factor about him. He has everything you want in a fighter that you want to market and he’s down to fight anyone at anytime.

After he defeated Jacare, he called out Khamzat Chimaev for a fight this Saturday night. Of course that fight won’t happen, but you have to love the energy from Kevin Holland. I’m very excited to see what 2021 has in store for the UFC middleweight.

Kevin Holland knocks Jacare Souza out at UFC 256

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Kevin Holland

The second fight of the main card at UFC 256 was a middleweight battle between Kevin Holland (20-5) and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (26-8,1 NC). Holland was getting the biggest opportunity of his UFC career to date.

While it’s been a tough year on the world, Kevin Holland has had a sensational year in the UFC. The brash middleweight has gone 4-0 and was looking to continue that tonight. 5-0 is a mark that not many can hit in a calendar year.

On the other side of things was the legend, Jacare. Jacare was looking to snap a two-fight losing streak. His last fight came at light heavyweight against the current UFC champion, Jan Blachowicz. Souza was looking to return to his winning ways at middleweight.

UFC 256 Recap

Round 1

The UFC 256 middleweight clash opened up, Holland threw a big right hand. Holland threw a big leg kick that Jacare was able to catch and takedown Holland. However, Holland did a really good job of working his way back up to his feet.

Jacare pushed him against the fence and was able to get him back down. There was a slight separation and Kevin Holland landed a couple of massive right hands from his back that rocked Jacare. Holland follows up and finishes him off. Massive win for Holland who’s gone 5-0 in the UFC this year.

Kevin Holland def. Jacare Souza by KO – Round 1

UFC 256 Preview: Kevin Holland – Jacare Souza

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Kevin Holland

The second fight on the UFC 256 PPV main card tomorrow night is a middleweight clash between Kevin Holland (20-5) and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (26-8, 1 NC). Holland will be looking to cap off an incredible 2020 where he’s already 4-0.

Kevin Holland has been sensational this year. Holland worked his way into the UFC back in 2018 after winning in Dana White’s Contender Series. His debut fight in the UFC came against former light heavyweight title challenger, Thiago Santos.

Holland lost that fight, but went on to win three straight before being submitted by Brendan Allen last October. In 2020, Holland has looked sensational going 4-0 with three knockouts. His work in 2020 has found him inside the UFC‘s top 15 at middleweight.

Holland will be taking on a legend in this one. Jacare Souza has had a legendary career in MMA. Souza was a world champion in Strikeforce and he holds victories in his career over the likes of Chris Weidman, Gegard Mousasi, Robbie Lawler, and Derek Brunson twice.

The 41 year old has done it all minus capturing UFC gold. Jacare will come into this contest on a two-fight losing streak. However, his last fight was a split decision loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz.

UFC 256 Prediction

A couple of weeks ago, both of these men were preparing for separate UFC bouts. Holland was preparing for Jack Hermansson and Jacare was preparing for Marvin Vettori. However, Holland’s positive COVID test caused the promotion to switch the fights.

This is a very interesting matchup to break down. On the feet, Holland will definitely have the speed advantage. His striking has looked clean and crisp this year. However, the power advantage will go to Jacare who has a career showing off his knockout power.

On the ground, this fight isn’t close. Jacare is one of the best jiu jitsu practitioners in the world. If Holland wants to walk out with his hand raised at UFC 256, he’s going to have to keep this fight on the feet.

One thing I noticed in the Darren Stewart fight is how Holland faded. If Jacare can use his wrestling and grappling to make this fight dirty, I think he has a real advantage in the second and third rounds.

I think you’re going to see Holland have some success from range early. However, I don’t think he’ll put Jacare away. Instead, I think Souza will be able to wear on Holland and get this fight down to the ground eventually. Once there, I think Jacare will show that he’s still got it.

Prediction: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – Round 3

UFC booking Marvin Vettori – Jacare Souza

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The Italian Dream will finally get a big time name in his next UFC contest. Marvin Vettori (15-4-1) is riding a three fight winning streak since fighting to a split decision loss to the current champion, Israel Adesanya. Vettori has looked very solid inside the octagon.

We last saw Vettori when he took on Karl Roberson back at UFC on ESPN 10. That night, Vettori submitted Roberson in the first round of their fight. Since that victory, Vettori has been calling for a big time name in the UFC‘s middleweight division.

However, the promotion struggled to get him a fight. Recently, it was thought that Vettori would be taking on Omari Akhmedov, however those plans have seemingly changed. Vettori’s coach said that the current plan is to take on the legend Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (26-8, 1 NC) at UFC 256.

For Jacare, the fight with Vettori will mark the first fight for him in 2020. The last we saw of Jacare in the UFC was last November when he took on current light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz. That night, Souza lost by split decision.

Solid middleweight clash at UFC 256

Souza will walk into the cage on December 12th at 41 years old. It is pretty clear that he doesn’t have many fight left in his UFC career. However, he can still hang with the best of them as he showed in his last UFC contest.

He still possesses elite skills on the ground, and he can hold his own on the feet. This will be a big test for the Italian Dream. Vettori has been looking for that UFC win that will put him on the map when it comes to the MMA casuals.

He’s been searching for that signature UFC victory. If he can pick up his fourth consecutive win in the UFC and do it against a guy like Jacare, it will say a lot about the path Vettori is on. Who knows, maybe one day he could run it back with the champion.