Report - Jacare Souza No Longer Under Contract With The UFC, Removed From Fans Rankings Pool

Mandatory Credit: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC

UFC middleweight contender, Ronaldo ' Jacare' Souza has completed his most recent contract with the organization following his UFC 261 submission loss to compatriot, Andre 'Sergipano' Muniz last weekend, and has subsequently been removed from the promotion's fans rankings pool. 

Souza, a sixteen-fight Octagon veteran, suffered his fourth consecutive loss at the Toyota Centre event in Houston, Texas, suffering a surprising opening round armbar loss to Muniz. The submission loss came as Souza's first submission blemish in his professional mixed martial arts career.

Caught in an armbar with a minute remaining in the opening frame, the Brazilian veteran was caught in an awkward scramble alongside Muniz, who attempted to set up an armbar. With his right arm trapped, Souza saw his right humerus snapped by Muniz, resulting in the first submission loss of his professional career. 

Souza would undergo successful surgery to repair his fractured right humerus on Monday in a Houston medical facility. News of Souza's contractual completion with the UFC was first reported by Sherdog.com reporters, Marcelo Alonso, and Jay Pettry.

A 37-fight professional veteran, Souza holds a professional record of 26-10(1) -- with his most recent victory coming opposite former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman back at UFC 230 in November of 2018 via a third round knockout. 

A fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a black belt in Judo under Henrique Machado, Souza is a former undisputed Strikeforce middleweight titleholder, scoring gold back in August of 2010 with a unanimous decision win over Tim Kennedy. Scoring one successful defence of the championship, Souza submitted former UFC welterweight best, Robbie Lawler the following January with a third round rear-naked choke.

During his UFC run, Souza scored a 9-7 promotional resume, besting Chris Camozzi (x2), Yushin Okami, Francis Carmont, Gegard Mousasi, Vitor Belfort, Tim Boetsch, Kelvin Gastelum, and the above-mentioned, Weidman.