Jacare eyeing rematches once recovered from pectoral surgery

Ronaldo Souza hopes to end a miserable year on a high note.

Since losing to Robert Whittaker in brutal fashion at UFC on FOX 24 and undergoing pectoral surgery, "Jacare" has spent his time on the shelf laying out a new mandate for the remainder of 2017. To the surprise of no one, a return to the Octagon - and title contention - sits at the top of the docket, preferably in a rematch with either Whittaker or former middleweight champ Luke Rockhold.

"(By) the end of the year I must return to the Octagon," Souza recently told AG. Fight, according to FloCombat. "I don't have a name in mind, but I have a number, which is number one. The guy who's in my way to fight for the belt. Just as I fought with many (opponents who were) behind me in the rankings, I can take anyone. Just give me the opportunity. I never lost a rematch in my life. Me and Whittaker or me and Rockhold? Who doesn't want to see that fight?"

The Brazilian fell to Rockhold in late 2011 while fighting under the Strikeforce banner and saw a rematch fall through when his former foe bowed out with an injury late last year. As for Whittaker, the surging middleweight will meet Yoel Romero in an interim title bout at UFC 213 next week.

Another priority for Jacare is improving his English. The 37-year-old didn't break it out until he spoke to the media in the week leading up to his fight with Whittaker, but he's hoping fluency and a solidly built brand will follow once he's spent more time stateside.

"I have to learn to speak English, to go and put myself out there. I will learn to speak … I can already communicate and speak a few things, but I'm going there (to the U.S.) for that very reason. It's all to help my career and to know (the language) as well. Everything that helps (my career) is good. I've always been a guy who looked for evolution in everything I did."