If you looked at UFC 194 as a whole, Conor McGregor versus Jose Aldo probably accounts for 90% of the event’s spotlight (with Conor taking up most of it, because that’s just who he is). It is the fight that most fans are looking forward to seeing. While there is nothing wrong with that, there are other great match ups on the card that deserve some recognition. We have a number one contender fight in the middleweight division, a grappling superfight, and a 145 lb bout between two of the scrappiest guys in the sport – these are fights that you do NOT want to miss!
Jacare Souza (-150) vs. Yoel Romero (+130)
In a dynamite vs. dynamite match up, Brazilian jiu-jitsu superstar and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jacare Souza takes on the explosive Olympic medalist Yoel Romero. This is a very exciting match up that should crown the number one contender in the 185 lb division; it’s an interesting clash of styles with a whole lot of similarities between them. Don’t blink because Jacare Souza vs. Yoel Romero is a fight that can end split-second.
In one corner we have Jacare Souza – a multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion who has been at the top of the grappling industry for a while now. He may just be the most accomplished grappler to compete in the UFC, but what is really impressive about Souza is the other facets of his game. Souza is crafty on his feet and can afford throwing wild without the fear of being taken down (nobody wants to get in Souza’s guard). Souza’s preferred weapon is his overhand right – it has knockout potential, and he has fantastic timing on it. In addition, Souza’s takedown game is stellar as well as he mixes wrestling and Judo together seemlessly. From the top position, there isn’t anybody more comfortable than Jacare Souza. He’s a cold, calculated killer, and his patience is what makes him so dangerous. He “cooks” his opponents, forces them to make a mistake, and goes for the juggular. Jacare is far from a one-dimensional grappler; even though he can submit virtually any middleweight on the roster, his striking contains the variety and power to make him a threat wherever the fight goes.
Yoel Romero is a very similar-styled fighter to Jacare if you substitute the jiu-jitsu skills with wrestling. Romero’s God-like athleticism at his age is absolutely mind-boggling, but it’s what makes him such a force in the middleweight division. Romero has the horsepower to drive any opponent to the mat, and from there he has shown vicious use of ground and pound (as seen by his KO over Lyoto Machida). On the feet, Romero is a tricky, unorthodox striker. He utilizes lots of tempo changes and unorthodox movement to lull his opponents into a false sense of security; then, without hesitation, he can shift into sixth gear and explode with devastating intentions. Romero is a powerhouse in all facets of MMA, and any opponent standing across from him is at the mercy of his destructive offense. Defensively, Romero has shown some small flaws – most noticeably when Tim Kennedy had him badly hurt in their encounter (fouls aside) – but he is continually improving his overall striking comfort with every performance.
Verdict: Because Jacare and Romero are built like Greek dieties, their volume often lacks because of it. Rather than streaming out flurry after flurry, they opt for more calculated, timed moments of aggression where they can put their full strength behind it. On the feet, I give a technical edge to Jacare Souza as he has traded blows with better opponents – Luke Rockhold, Gegard Mousasi, and Yushin Okami to name a few. But Romero’s creative use of his power can ends things at a moment’s notice.
The one thing that I believe will decide this fight is IQ. Jacare is known to be one of the most intelligent fighters inside the cage; much of this is due to his experience in high-level MMA. Romero, while he has the amateur credentials to show his comfort with intense competition, is not as experienced in the variable-filled sport of MMA. I would even go as far to say that Romero has shown some flaws in his fight IQ, which could exploited by a skilled contender like Jacare Souza. I expect their grappling styles to cancel each other out, and instead this will be a striking contest with low lows and high highs. Expect these two to be very cautious in the beginning – to the point of blatant inactivity – but once they choose to engage, it will be absolute chaos. I’m picking Jacare to land his right hand on the off-switch of Romero, but not after escaping some close calls due to Romero’s unpredictability and power.
Jacare Souza via 2nd Rd KO
