'Jacare' blasts Bisping for impasse in 185-pound division, chides Rockhold
As far as Ronaldo Souza is concerned, Michael Bisping is the bane of the UFC's middleweight division.
"Jacare" campaigned for a shot at Bisping's crown before signing on for a meeting with veteran Tim Boetsch at UFC 208, and told the media in a recent scrum the champ's elusive ways have brought him to his wit's end. The Brit has repeatedly voiced his preference for lucrative superfights as opposed to defending the title against the middleweight elite, a ploy that's prompted Souza to condemn him yet again.
"The truth is that (Bisping) doesn't fight for his honor, or for his family. He doesn't even fight for himself," Souza said, according to MMAjunkie's Fernanda Prates. "He's a guy who only thinks about money. He only thinks about doing his thing and fighting for money. That's his first choice. He doesn't care about his fans. He doesn't care what the fans want. The fans are the ones who pay for this scoundrel's salary, so he better respect them."
Should his long-awaited title shot remain fleet of foot, the Brazilian can always settle his business with fellow Strikeforce alum Luke Rockhold. The pair were initially scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 101 in a rematch this past November until Rockhold pulled out with an injury. The former champion now claims to be nursing a torn ACL while - oddly enough - training regularly, a contradiction that reeks of cowardice, says Jacare.
"There are a lot of tough opponents; I have chicken Rockhold to fight. I mean, if he wants to fight, I don't know. The guy is handsome. He could easily be a model. He's damn handsome - but a wimp. Doesn't want to fight. He ran. Everyone knows that he ran. He's training like a mad man, training more than I am. How come he can't fight?"
Also in Souza's sights is title challenger apparent Yoel Romero, who handed him his only UFC loss via split decision at UFC 194. The 39-year-old Romero is expected to be next on Bisping's docket, but the Brazilian expects the increasingly maligned champion - who underwent knee surgery on Friday - to remain evasive and keep the middleweight title picture in limbo.
"And I believe the next one for me may be (Yoel) Romero, because Bisping is running. It's a disaster that Bisping is champion of the middleweight division. Horrible. It brought the division to a halt. The guy doesn't want to fight. The guy is damn annoying."
Souza may have one eye on the title, but he isn't overlooking a consummate overachiever in Boetsch, who's won two straight and scored upset victories over the likes of Hector Lombard and Yushin Okami. The booking rightfully raised some eyebrows, as Boetsch sits a full 10 spots below the third-ranked Jacare, but the game Brazilian is content to remain active until his number finally gets called.
"Many said, 'Oh, you shouldn't have taken this fight. What am I, a dancer? A dancer dances. A singer sings. And what does a fighter do? He fights.
"Thankfully the UFC gave me this opportunity to stay active, against a very tough opponent. Is he the 13th (ranked fighter) in the (UFC) rankings? Yes. Is he way back there? Yes, but I'm respecting him. I think he can put anyone to sleep. I hope it isn't me."