After losing to UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in July, Lyoto Machida needs to defeat another top contender if he hopes to fight for the title again and he has set his sights on Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.
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Souza seems to be the next contender in line for a shot at the title. Weidman will defend his championship against Vitor Belfort on Dec. 6, so it is possible Jacare would need to take another fight while he awaits the winner.
Machida and Jacare train together at Team Black House, but "The Dragon" said he would accept the fight if the UFC offered it.
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"For sure, Jacare would be a great opponent, I have all the respect for him but I would like a lot to have the opportunity of facing him someday," Machida told Globo, according to BloodyElbow.com. "I'm waiting the UFC to call me. If they ask me, I would accept at any time."
Jacare is coming off a submission win over Gegard Mousasi at UFC Fight Night last week. He is on an impressive seven-fight win streak, but with Weidman's next title defense so far down the line it is possible he will need to remain active if he hopes to stay in title contention.
Machida was rumored to be in talks for a fight against C.B. Dolloway on Dec. 20 in Brazil. Even though he lost by unanimous decision to Weidman in July, a win over Jacare would knock a top contender off the ladder and vault him right back into the title conversation.
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