Jacare vs. Yoel Romero Rescheduled For UFC on FOX 15 Co-Main Event
Even before middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced out of his (long) awaited title fight with Vitor Belfort at February 28’s UFC 184 from Los Angeles, the card took a serious hit last month when top-ranked middleweight Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza withdrew from his pivotal 185-pound showdown with bulldozing contender Yoel Romero.
Jacare cited pneumonia as the main reason for his absence, and the fight was postponed rather than cancelled.
Tonight (Wed., February 11, 2015) news has arrived on UFC Tonight that the fight has been rescheduled for sooner than you may have thought, as Jacare and Romero will lock horns in the co-main event of April 18’s UFC on FOX 15 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey:
Another new fight. Co-main event for April 15th in New Jersey, #2 Jacare Souza vs. #6 Yoel Romero!
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) February 12, 2015
The card, which features a crucial middleweight showdown between former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and No. 5-ranked Luke Rockhold, has now become an absolutely stacked night for the future of the talented UFC middleweight division.
With a wholly impressive seven-fight win streak under his belt, Jacare is understandably knocking on the door of title contention. He was last seen defeating former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi with a vicious third round submission at last September’s UFC Fight Night 50 from Connecticut.
His last loss came to Rockhold in a five-round war for the Strikeforce middleweight championship back at Strikeforce: Jacare vs. Rockhold in September 2011.
Romero, meanwhile, has been cutting a path through the UFC middleweight ranks ever since his debut win over Clifford Starks at UFC on FOX 7 in April 2013.
The Olympic silver medalist wrestler has won five straight bouts, his latest a highly controversial third round finish of Tim Kennedy at last September’s UFC 178 where the now-infamous “stoolgate” arose after Romero took several extra seconds to answer the third round bell.
Romero was badly rocked by a succession of Kennedy uppercuts to end the second frame.
Time could be running out for the 37-year-old Romero to make a legitimate run at the title, making this bout with Jacare an absolute must-win for both men.
Photo Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports
