‘Jacare’ Souza, Derek Brunson Agree to Fight But Not on the Date or Location
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is ready to book his next fight after revealing on Monday that he’s accepted an offer to face Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night from Brazil on Feb. 3.
Souza took to Twitter on Monday where he stated that he’s been offered and already accepted the matchup but now he’s waiting on Brunson to do the same.
“UFC offered me Derek Brunson to fight on February 3rd at [UFC Fight Night] 125, Belem do Para, Brazil,” Souza said. “I already agreed to fight on Belem do Para, Brazil, now is up to Derek Brunson.
“I hope he doesn’t come up with excuses about the location and date of event.”
UFC offered me Derek Brunson to fight on February 3rd at UFC FN 125, Belem do Para, Brazil. I already agreed to fight on Belem do Para, Brazil, now is up to Derek Brunson, I hope he doesn't come up with escuses about the location and date of event. @ufc
— Ronaldo Jacaré (@JacareMMA) November 20, 2017
Souza has been out of action since April when he suffered a TKO loss to current interim UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Meanwhile, Brunson is fresh off a first round knockout against former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida in late October.
It didn’t take long for Brunson to answer the challenge, but he revealed the same fight offer for a different date and location for the upcoming UFC card in Charlotte in his home state of North Carolina in January.
“That’s weird. I accepted for Jan. 27 in Charlotte, NC,” Brunson wrote. “I’ll be in touch after this weekend’s fight! See you in [North Carolina].”
That’s weird . I accepted for Jan 27 in Charlotte, NC. I’ll be in touch after this weekend’s fight! See you in NC. https://t.co/IrA88q4kEu
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 20, 2017
The fight this weekend is another middleweight bout as former champion Michael Bisping faces Kelvin Gastelum in Shanghai, China.
Perhaps Brunson hopes to face the winner of that fight or he’s staying steadfast on his request to compete in North Carolina after traveling out of the United States for three out his last four fights.
Brunson has traveled to New Zealand, Australia and Brazil and hoped to get a fight a little closer to home after his win against Machida in October.
The matchup with “Jacare” would certainly be enticing to Brunson after he suffered a knockout loss to him five years ago while they were both competing in Strikeforce.
