Jacare Souza can’t understand why Israel Adesanya is fighting for UFC title: ‘He never fought against top fighters’

Bloodyelbow.com

After just one year in the UFC, surging middleweight Israel Adesanya is already fighting for a world title – and ‘Jacare’ Souza isn’t too happy about it.

Adesanya, who has gone 5-0 since joining the UFC last year, will challenge TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight championship at the upcoming UFC 236 pay-per-view in Atlanta, but Souza can’t understand why.

Speaking to Ariel Helwani in a recent interview, Jacare expressed his frustration with the UFC booking Adesanya for a title fight despite ‘The Last Stylebender’ never beating any ‘top fighters.’

”I don’t know why the UFC put him to fight for the title,” Souza said, per MMA Mania’s Ryan Harkness. “He hasn’t done enough. Because he never fought against top fighters, you know? Okay, he beat Derek Brunson, but I’m a jiu jitsu fighter and I beat Derek Brunson twice. And the second time, when I kicked the Derek Brunson’s head, my eyes were closed. I did better than him twice, and in the second time my eyes were closed. Why the UFC put this guy to cut my line? I don’t know. But he doesn’t deserve to fight for the title. He don’t deserve, 100 percent. Anderson is out of the rank and out of shape. He doesn’t deserve it.”

Souza is so frustrated that, should he not get a title shot with a win over Yoel Romero in his upcoming rematch at UFC on ESPN 3, he is willing to retire from MMA.

”I wanna sit and wait for my shot, for my chance,” he said. “If UFC doesn’t give me the chance, I’m going to open a jiu-jitsu school for me. I don’t have a problem with retiring. Right now my body is good, my hormone is great, everything is good. I don’t have a problem with this. I’d be retiring to my jiu-jitsu on top. So I have to win this fight and wait on the UFC.

”For me it’s normal, it’s a business. If they don’t like me…. If they don’t like me or don’t give me the chance, I’m here to be a champ. Working to be a champ. If they don’t give me a title shot or put other people to cut in my line, I’ll be in retirement.”

Souza last fought in the UFC 230 co-main event, KO’ing former middleweight champ Chris Weidman in a Fight of the Night classic.

The Brazilian will look to avenge his loss to ‘Soldier of God’ at UFC on ESPN 3, which takes place next month, April 27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.