Some fighters head into their bout knowing what fight they want next, and have a name ready to drop, when asked. Ronaldo Souza has two.
Souza (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) takes on Uriah Hall this Saturday at UFC 249 looking to avoid a three-fight losing skid.
In a classic striker versus grappler matchup on paper, Souza is aware of Hall’s threat, but is confident he has the skills and gameplan to put him away.
“I have a lot of respect for Hall,” Souza told MMA Junkie. “He’s a great fighter, he’s incredible, he’s a knockout master. But I’m ready to use my skills and beat him. I did a very good training camp for this fight and, on fight day, I want to prove that I’m better than him.
“I believe I’m going to win this fight in the second round. I don’t know why, but I believe I’m going to win in the second.”
If he successfully gets past Hall, Souza has his eyes on two split decision losses that he hopes to avenge. Souza was narrowly edged by both Yoel Romero and Kelvin Gastelum, and said he wants rematches with both of them.
“I’d like to make a rematch against Romero,” Souza said. “I believe it’s gonna be a great fight – or Kelvin Gastelum. I have to prove that I’m the king of the rematch because I never lost a rematch, and I’d like to make a rematch against these fighters. … But right now I have to be focused on my opponent because he’s tough. I have to be smart because he’s tough.”
