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‘Jacare’ Souza Announces Retirement from MMA

Ben Coate

At 41-years old, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is calling it quits in MMA. On Tuesday, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist and long-time MMA and UFC veteran announced his retirement, via Combate.

Souza made his professional MMA debut in 2003, and would earn a record of 26-10, winning the Strikeforce middleweight championship along the way. He holds notable MMA wins over former UFC champions Robbie Lawler, Chris Weidman, and Vitor Belfort. Souza was released from the UFC following a submission loss at UFC 262 in which he suffered a broken arm; it was his fourth consecutive defeat.

Souza is one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu competitors to ever compete in the highest levels of MMA. He is a three-time IBJJF world champion, an ADCC world champion, and an ADCC superfight winner. Souza holds impressive jiu-jitsu wins over Roger Gracie (twice), Robert Drysdale, and Braulio Estima (three times). He has not competed in grappling since a 2011 ADCC loss to Estima.

Following Souza’s release from the UFC, he announced plans to open a jiu-jitsu academy in Orlando, FL.

Ben Coate

Ben has been involved with grappling, whether through wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, essentially his entire life. After wrestling throughout his childhood, Ben found Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a young adult and quickly fell in love. He has been training for over ten years and currently holds the rank of brown belt, and remains involved in both the MMA and BJJ scene. Ben has been writing about combat sports since 2017. He has interviewed and profiled some of MMA's biggest stars, including multiple UFC champions.

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