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Ronaldo Jacare

Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza went from life at a Manaus academy to world jiu-jitsu titles, a Strikeforce championship and teaching the next generation.

Last updated: 22 September 2026

Biography

Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza built his jiu-jitsu career in Henrique Machado's academy in Manaus, where he trained, lived and earned money washing other students' uniforms. He went on to win world titles and an ADCC championship before becoming Strikeforce's middleweight champion. His work as a teacher has included private lessons for professional fighters and coaching children on competition trips. Born in Vila Velha in 1979, Souza grew up in Cariacica before moving to Manaus. There he studied both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Machado. In a 2013 interview with Globo Esporte, he remembered borrowing his older brother's gi, the training uniform, after an injury kept his brother from attending practice. It was too big for him, and his first session was difficult. He returned anyway. Training became part of the way he supported himself. Souza recalled washing gis for fellow students and watching parked cars to earn small amounts of money. Journalist Marcelo Alonso, remembering a visit in 2002, described him living at the academy and already popular with local children. Machado's involvement extended beyond teaching techniques: Souza's academy biography credits him with overseeing daily practice, nutrition and competition preparation. Souza won his weight class and the open division at the 2003 brown-belt Worlds, then received his jiu-jitsu black belt from Machado that year. He also earned a black belt in judo. The following year's black-belt world championships brought an open-division final against Roger Gracie. In this division, competitors could meet across weight classes. Souza took Gracie's back and built a four-point lead, but Gracie caught his left arm in an armbar, a hold that extends the elbow. Souza injured the arm, escaped without submitting and protected it through the remaining time. He won on points. The injury then kept him from competing in his weight-category final, leaving him with open gold and medium-heavyweight silver. Souza's later view of that match was less celebratory than its result might suggest. Speaking to Globo in 2013, he said becoming a father had changed his priorities: he wanted to come home able to embrace his children, rather than put himself through that damage again. In 2005 he returned to the Worlds and won both medium-heavyweight and open gold for Brasa. Bráulio Estima was the runner-up in his weight class; Gracie again finished second in the open. At ADCC in 2005, Souza had faced a different problem before reaching the mat. In an interview published by the organizer after the event, he described visa delays that disrupted his preparation. He obtained the visa on Friday and flew that night; the accompanying report placed his arrival from the airport shortly before Saturday's first match. He still won the under-88-kilogram title, defeating Demian Maia in the final, and took second in the open division. Asked about the open final against Gracie, Souza gave credit to Gracie's positioning rather than treating the travel difficulties as an explanation for his defeat. Graciemag's account of a later seminar gives a concrete picture of Souza's technical approach. Its description follows a sequence from the feet to the ground: take an opponent down, secure position on landing, pass the guard by getting beyond the opponent's legs without leaving space, then attack from side control, alongside the torso. The emphasis is on maintaining pressure through each transition. Souza would return to ADCC in 2009 to beat Robert Drysdale in the superfight, a separate featured match. In December 2023, he was announced as a selection for ADCC's 2024 Hall of Fame class. His move into mixed martial arts had begun before those black-belt world titles. In 2003, he faced Jorge Patino at the first Jungle Fight event in Manaus and lost. Looking back for MMA Fighting, Souza regretted choosing to exchange strikes instead of using his grappling. He described the defeat as a lesson in how different MMA was from jiu-jitsu competition. The decision to devote more attention to MMA developed over time. Souza later connected it to financial difficulty while recovering in Rio de Janeiro after the 2004 world final. He also felt that dividing his effort between the two sports cost him time. His continued grappling appearances in 2005 and 2009 show that the change was gradual. After fighting in Brazil, he competed for DREAM in Japan and then joined Strikeforce. In 2010, Souza beat Tim Kennedy by decision for Strikeforce's middleweight title. He defended it once before losing a decision to Luke Rockhold. His UFC career opened with five consecutive victories, but he never contested its championship. One opportunity fell away in 2016: he was offered a fight with champion Rockhold, but needed knee surgery and could not take it. Souza announced his retirement from MMA in August 2021, with a record of 26 wins, ten losses and one no-contest. At the time, he left open the possibility of competing in jiu-jitsu again. He subsequently competed in another sport, boxing Vitor Belfort at Gamebred Boxing 4 in 2023 and losing by unanimous decision. Teaching had a place in Souza's career well before that retirement. In testimonials published by Jacaré Martial Arts, two students describe the practical help he gave them. Ary Farias says Souza taught him from the age of eight until sixteen, later became his training partner, and paid attention to his schooling and life away from practice. UFC fighter Philip Rowe recalls private lessons, travel expenses Souza paid so he could experience major events, and opportunities to work in his corner. These are accounts carried by Souza's own academy, rather than independent assessments of its teaching. When Souza retired from MMA, Alonso reported his plans for an academy in Florida. That business is now operating as Jacaré Martial Arts in Ocoee, with Souza identified as a co-founder. The academy's report of a June 2025 trip describes him accompanying its young competitors from Florida to a children's championship in Brazil and coaching them there.

Sources for this profile

Jacaré Martial Arts, About, undated.(opens in a new tab)
- Ronaldo Souza dos Santos, known as Jacaré, was born in Vila Velha, Brazil, in 1979.
  Where in the source: Origins — “December 7, 1979”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza grew up in Cariacica and later moved to Manaus, where he trained in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Henrique Machado.
  Where in the source: Origins
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Henrique Machado guided Souza's daily training, nutrition and preparation for competition.
  Where in the source: Origins — “nutrition plan”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Henrique Machado in 2003; he also holds a judo black belt.
  Where in the source: Journey To Success
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza is identified as a co-founder of Jacaré Martial Arts, whose site lists its location in Ocoee, Florida.
  Where in the source: ABOUT US and footer — “co-founder”; “Ocoee”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting, ‘Jacare’ decided to leave jiu-jitsu for MMA after Roger Gracie broke his arm, September 3, 2013.(opens in a new tab)
- Ronaldo Jacaré Souza is Brazilian.
  Where in the source: Closing career paragraph — “the Brazilian”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza's MMA debut came against Jorge Patino at the first Jungle Fight in Manaus in 2003. In his later account he regretted exchanging strikes instead of using his grappling and said the loss taught him how different MMA was.
  Where in the source: MMA-debut passage — “MMA was different”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- In 2013 Souza linked his decision to concentrate on MMA to financial difficulty while recovering in Rio after the 2004 world final, and said dividing his efforts between the sports cost time.
  Where in the source: Transition passages — “focus on MMA”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Isabella Pina, Globo Esporte, De lavador de quimono a ídolo do UFC, conheça Ronaldo Jacaré, October 2, 2013; updated October 3.(opens in a new tab)
- In a 2013 interview, Souza recalled first visiting Machado's academy after his older brother, who trained there, was injured. He borrowed the brother's oversized gi and returned after a difficult first session.
  Where in the source: Opening recollections — “Vesti o kimono”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza said he earned small amounts washing fellow students' gis and watching parked cars while devoting himself to training in Manaus.
  Where in the source: Early training recollections — “lavei o quimono”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Looking back in 2013, Souza said fatherhood had changed how he viewed the 2004 final: he wanted to return home able to embrace his children rather than repeat that damage.
  Where in the source: Reflections after the final — “abraçar meus filhos”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Marcelo Alonso, Sherdog, ‘Jacare’ and Jiu Jitsu’s Circle of Virtue, August 12, 2021.(opens in a new tab)
- Journalist Marcelo Alonso recalls visiting Souza in 2002, when the young athlete was living at Machado's academy and had become popular with local children.
  Where in the source: Recollection of the reporter's 2002 Manaus visit — “biggest bed”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- In 2021 Alonso reported that Souza planned a Florida academy, including a program welcoming children with additional needs.
  Where in the source: Final paragraph — “January of 2022”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
BJJ Heroes, Ronaldo Souza ‘Jacare’, undated.(opens in a new tab)
- ASLE's connection with Master Team, later Brasa, gave its competitors accommodation and additional training partners when they traveled to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
  Where in the source: Biography, academy affiliation paragraphs — “stronger logistics”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- At the 2003 Worlds, Souza won both his brown-belt weight division and the open division before receiving his black belt that year.
  Where in the source: Biography, 2003 breakthrough paragraph — “Brown Belt Division”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Representing Brasa, Ronaldo de Souza won the adult male black-belt open division at the 2004 Worlds and placed second in medium-heavyweight.
  Where in the source: 2004 results, adult male black belt: “Medium Heavy”; “Open Class”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Marcelo Dunlop, Graciemag, Os 20 anos da luta do século entre Ronaldo Jacaré e Roger Gracie, February 6, 2024.(opens in a new tab)
- In the 2004 world open final, Souza took Roger Gracie's back and established a four-point lead before Gracie caught his left arm in an armbar.
  Where in the source: Match account — “4 a 0”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza escaped the armbar without submitting and protected his injured arm for the remaining time, winning the 2004 open title on points.
  Where in the source: Closing minutes of the final — “mão na faixa”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- The arm injury prevented Souza from contesting his weight-category final; he returned to collect open gold and weight-division silver.
  Where in the source: Post-match account — “ouro e sua prata”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2005, official results.(opens in a new tab)
- Souza won both adult male black-belt medium-heavyweight and open gold for Brasa at the 2005 Worlds. Bráulio Estima placed second in his weight division and Roger Gracie second in the open division.
  Where in the source: 2005 results, adult male black belt: “Medium Heavy”; “Open Class”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
ADCC, Five quick questions to ADCC up to 88kg champion and absolute runner up Ronaldo Jacare, June 10, 2005.(opens in a new tab)
- Souza won the under-88-kilogram division and finished second in the open division at ADCC 2005.
  Where in the source: Introductory event account — “up to 88kg category”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Visa delays disrupted Souza's preparation for ADCC 2005. He said he obtained the visa on Friday and flew that night; the report describes him arriving from the airport shortly before his first match on Saturday.
  Where in the source: Travel introduction and first response — “visa on Friday”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Discussing the 2005 open final, Souza credited Roger Gracie's positioning rather than offering the travel problems as an excuse for defeat.
  Where in the source: Response about the open final — “He made it right”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Joe Gilpin, FloGrappling, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza To Join ADCC 2024 Hall Of Fame Class, December 26, 2023.(opens in a new tab)
- At ADCC 2005, Souza beat Dennis Hallman in the semifinal and Demian Maia in the under-88-kilogram final.
  Where in the source: Career recap — “Demian Maia”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza defeated Robert Drysdale in the 2009 ADCC superfight.
  Where in the source: Opening recap — “Robert Drysdale”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- ADCC announced in December 2023 that Souza would enter its 2024 Hall of Fame class.
  Where in the source: Announcement — “2024 Hall of Fame class”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Redação Graciemag, A posição que fez de Ronaldo Jacaré um campeão de Jiu-Jitsu e MMA, March 6, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
- Graciemag described Souza's pressure-based style through a seminar sequence: take the opponent down, establish position as he lands, move past the legs without leaving space, and attack from side control.
  Where in the source: “Passe a guarda e finalize do lado”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Steven Marrocco, MMA Fighting, Former Strikeforce champ, UFC contender Jacare Souza announces retirement at 41, August 10, 2021.(opens in a new tab)
- After competing in Brazil, Souza fought for Japan's DREAM promotion before joining Strikeforce.
  Where in the source: Career retrospective, Brazil-to-DREAM transition
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza won Strikeforce's middleweight championship by decision over Tim Kennedy in 2010, defended it once, and later lost the title by decision to Luke Rockhold.
  Where in the source: Strikeforce paragraph — “Tim Kennedy”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- Souza began his UFC career with five consecutive wins and remained a contender without receiving a title fight. In 2016, his need for knee surgery prevented him from taking an offered fight with champion Luke Rockhold.
  Where in the source: UFC paragraph — “five straight”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- In August 2021 Souza announced his retirement from MMA, with 26 wins, 10 losses and one no-contest, while leaving open the possibility of returning to jiu-jitsu competition.
  Where in the source: Retirement opening and record paragraph — “26-10”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Damon Martin, MMA Fighting, Gamebred Boxing 4 results: Vitor Belfort scores two knockdowns leading to decision win over ‘Jacare’ Souza, April 2, 2023.(opens in a new tab)
- Souza later boxed Vitor Belfort at Gamebred Boxing 4 in 2023, losing by unanimous decision.
  Where in the source: Opening result paragraph — “unanimous decision”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Jacaré Martial Arts, Home, undated.(opens in a new tab)
- In a testimonial published by Souza's academy, UFC fighter Philip Rowe says Souza gave him private lessons, paid for travel so he could experience major events, and involved him as a cornerman while encouraging his development.
  Where in the source: “PHILIP ROWE”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
- In the academy's testimonial, Ary Farias says Souza taught him from ages eight to sixteen, later became his training partner, and took an interest in his schooling and life outside training.
  Where in the source: “Ary Farias”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22
Jacaré Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Kids: Jacaré Martial Arts Athletes Win Big in Brazil and the U.S., 2025.(opens in a new tab)
- The academy reported that Souza coached its young competitors during a trip from Florida to a Brazilian children's championship in June 2025.
  Where in the source: Children's competition report — “coached and supported”
  Accessed: 2026-09-22

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
Year	Event	Result	Division
2009	ADCC 2009Source: adcombat.comNo-giVerified	1st place	No-giVerified
2005	ADCC 2005Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified	1st place	-88 kgNo-giVerified
2005	ADCC 2005Source: adcombat.comAbsoluteNo-giVerified	2nd place	AbsoluteNo-giVerified
2005	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.orgAbsoluteGiVerified	1st place	AbsoluteGiVerified
2005	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-88 kgGiVerified	1st place	-88 kgGiVerified
2004	IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.orgAbsoluteGiVerified	1st place	AbsoluteGiVerified
2003	ADCC 2003Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified	2nd place	-88 kgNo-giVerified

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage