Under the Microscope: Analyzing Middleweight Greats

Ronaldo Souza’s otherworldly grappling skills have translated well to MMA. | photo: Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com

Ronaldo Souza

* Middleweight Record: 13-2-1
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .745
* Longest Winning Streak: 10
* Record in Major Middleweight Title Fights: 2-2-1
* Finish Percentage: 69
* Finished Percentage: 50
* Notable Victories: Gegard Mousasi, Yushin Okami, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, Matt Lindland, Jason Miller
* Career Accomplishments: Strikeforce middleweight champion, with one successful title defense; 2008 Dream middleweight grand prix finalist; two-time UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner

CASE FOR: Despite a long lineage of jiu-jitsu world champions that have fought in the UFC, “Jacare” is arguably the most decorated practitioner to make the leap. Unlike other grappling aces, Souza has been able to find sustainable success, due in no small part to his continuing evolution as an overall fighter. He has gone 5-0 in the UFC thus far, finishing four of those fights, and his striking has never looked better. This trajectory has put the rest of the division on notice. Subtract two fluke kicks -- a Mousasi upkick and an illegal kick from Miller -- and Souza could have very well been the defending Dream middleweight champion, pushing his overall record in title fights to 4-1. Regardless of how fate adjourned those two bouts, “Jacare” is at the pinnacle of his prime right now, and should he capture the UFC belt, there will be little ammunition for the doubters.

CASE AGAINST: Souza is yet another example of “what ifs” gone wrong. In the real world, where the rest of us live, all three of the fights he did not win came via crumpling under the bright lights on the championship stage; that is hardly the portrait of greatness. It is easy to concede that he is an outstanding grappler, but again, those accomplishments are peripheral to the MMA world. Until he lands himself another major MMA title, those credentials do little to substantiate his claim as the G.O.A.T. at 185 pounds. To add to his all-time woes, Souza is 35. He is not quite over the hill yet, but he is knocking on the door in an unforgiving line of work. It looks like it is do-or-die time for the jiu-jitsu jackknife, as one false step in the cage will likely close the curtains on his historical ambitions.

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