UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – Ronaldo Souza vs Vitor Belfort Toe to Toe Preview

Jacare Souza and Vitor Belfort climb one last rung before title contention versus oblivion this May 14, 2016 at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil.

Single sentence summary:

Phil: The old young lion tries not to stray too close to the edge of the waterhole.

David: The young dinosaur battles the triassic alligator for middleweight natural selection.

Stats

Record: Middleweight Ronaldo Souza 22-4-1 NC vs.Vitor Belfort 25-11

Odds: MiddleweightRonaldo Souza -315 vs.Vitor Belfort +285

History lesson / introduction to the fighters

Phil: I’m going to miss Vitor Belfort when he’s gone. Not even really his fighting, which has become increasingly one-note, but just his weird presence. He has the same kind of unique, self-centered lens that he looks at the world through as Bethe Correia does. I know most people find it incredibly annoying, but I find it kind of fascinating and almost… refreshing? He sometimes has genuine points to make which are often studded in amongst his bizarre self-mythologizing. That said, I think Vitor’s self-aggrandizing ways and his mercenary realism are starting to clash a bit here- even he realizes he’s getting to the end of a long and characteristically odd career.

David: It’s important to remember that Belfort is a qualified celebrity in his home country. Celebrities love to nurture their eccentricities with a ball peen hammer, which is what makes them insufferable. To have that kind of demeanor in an MMA fighter is what makes his presence welcome. I like hearing what he has to say too. It helps that his fighting style, for however chemically enhanced, is fun to watch too.

Phil: Vitor has been someone who’s been catapulted back to the top of the sport multiple times by combinations of luck, physical gifts and historical cachet. Jacare, conversely, has been that guy that just keeps getting subtly derailed. Whether it’s his opponents getting injured and pulling out, or losing a decision to Romero (who promptly popped), or just struggling to get bookings. Jacare is a physical freak. He has a cool alligator gimmick, he normally finishes or messes up his opponents, and his head is an awesome shape. He should be more of a star than he is.

David: Did you just compliment the shape of his skull? Kudos. I never paid too much attention. Then I went to google and noticed a very sleak, hydra (the monster, not the shadow organization) like quality to the contours of his head.

Jacare would be a star if the UFC also kind of helped give him a marketing boost. Then again he doesn’t have blonde hair and blue eyes like Page and Sage, so I can see how he would fall by the ‘Dana’s jealous he doesn’t look as good without hair’ wayside.

What are the stakes?

Phil: This one seems like it’s been set up for Jacare as a bit of an apology for the Romero situation- a winnable fight in front of the home crowd. However, a Vitor win isn’t dreadful for the UFC. He’s always been a big name. I don’t think he ever sniffs a title shot again, but he can always lend some interest to other fighters in the …

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