Ronaldo Jacaré

By Eduardo Ferreira

“The next time I got someone’s back I will submit more easily, because this fight was a big apprenticeship for me”

 

After perpetuate his name at Jiu-Jitsu, Ronaldo Jacaré is starting at MMA events and he is showing that he has come to stay. At Dream last edition, Jacaré defeated Jason Miller and go to the semifinal of the Dream middleweight GP. In an exclusive interview to TATAME, Jaca talk about his last victory, spoke about the performance of Brazilian fighters at his category and also gave his opinion. "I think it was a very good fight, but I still need to improve a lot. I faced a guy who has already defeated many champions and, if you check out, he didn’t nothing, he just defend himself", examined the black belt that don’t consider Melvin Manhoef a too much dangerous opponent. Check out below the full interview with Ronaldo Jacaré:

What do you think about your last performance?
I think it was a good fight, but I still need to improve a lot. I made many mistakes. I know where I did wrong, why I made wrong and I am going to train more, I will fulfill what is missing. As everybody saw, Jiu-Jitsu is the way, so I have to train more Jiu-Jitsu and adapt myself more to the MMA. But I am very happy, I faced a guy who has already defeated many champions and, if you check out, he didn’t nothing, he just defend himself.

What did miss to submission?
I felt some difficulty. I got his back, made the position but unfortunately I didn’t submit. At the end of the second round, I made I tight position, but he pulled my hand. The next time I got someone’s back I will submit more easily, because this fight was a big apprenticeship for me.

What do you think about Kazushi Sakuraba lost to Melvin Monhoef?
I think Melvin made everithink right and deserved to win. If we analyze Sakuraba, he has not the shape he has before. During the event, one time I went out the Arena and saw Sakuraba smoking.

Do you believe Monhoef could be a good opponent?
He already said that he prefers to face another opponent and I think he said that because he get complicated himself on the ground. He is an experience guy, strong, powerful, has an amazing record, but at the ground he get tired. He doesn’t have many options at the ground.

Did the Dream staff already announce who will be your opponent?
Not yet.

It will be two fights at the same night to be the GP champion. What is the way to win?
I really got tired at the second round of the fight, but after that, I rested and fought nicely. For this second phase I will train more, adapt myself more and I am going to make an excellent job to become champion.

If you conquer the belt, what are your plans?
I want to keep in , because I have a contract with Dream.

Do you believe that the toughest fighters at your category are at or still have many good guys at ?
There is top fighter in all events. I am fighting at , focus at and, as at another’s organizations, there is big fighters.

Demian (Maia) said you will help him to the UFC 87…
I am here at waiting him to return from . The truth is that we are going to help each other. We want to grow as athletes and we are going to help each other to this happen. I hope that in his next bout he wins and that it be chosen as the best submission.

What do you think about Rousimar Toquinho Palhares vs. Dan Henderson?
Toquinho is Toquinho, he is the man, he is going to make it big. He is very well, passing through a big phase at his career. He is a bog athlete, a great submission guy and anyone must have problems against him. He wins certainly.

Do you believe Anderson will have success at UFC Fight Night fighting at the above category from the one he is used to give amazing performances?
Anderson is through a big phase at his career. Although to be considered the most dangerous man in the world he showed, in practice that he is the tough man in the world. There is no way to deny it. I am going to root for him, I am going to watch it and for sure he will have the same amazing performance he is used to have.

The two biggest fighters at the category nowadays are Paulão Filho and Anderson Silva. Do you want to face them or do you prefer not to face Brazilians?
Nowadays the professionalism is above everything. I certainly would fight against them, even because they are the biggest at the category, they proved that. I am crazy for Paulão, I like his stile, to see him fighting, he is a great fighter, a phenomenon. Who doesn’t want to face the best?

You were at the BJJ Worlds and saw Xande Ribeiro defeating Roger Gracie for the second time. Xande is the best of the world or Roger is still the man to be defeated?
Xande won the World fighting Jiu-Jitsu, there is not this thing to talk that he won with tactic. If Roger wanted to fight he would take to his guard, he would try to take down. Roger will be always the guy to be defeated, he has a phenomenal Jiu-Jitsu, but he stopped at Xande. Xande was the best.

Although the defeat, Roger is been appointed as the best grappler in the world. Do you agree with that?
Xande is twice World champion. But Roger, at no gi, is the best grappler in the world. Both are equivalent at Jiu-Jitsu, Xande a little bit better certainly.

Do you want to let a message to your fans?
I am going up step by step. I have to improve a lot yet and I am going to improve. In relation to Paulão and Anderson, they are ahead, they are at the top and I am climbing now. I want to wish all success to them. Anderson will make it big at the next fight, I am going to root a lot for him. And you can believe that I will become the champion of this GP. Watch the fight, because it will be not easy to mu opponents. I want to tanks the people that support me, my friends, everybody. I just have things to thanks.