Ronaldo Souza To Face Jack Hermansson In Florida After Yoel Romero Pulled Out Due To illness
Earlier this week news broke that former UFC title contender Yoel Romero withdraws from UFC On ESPN 3 main event due to an illness (reportedly pneumonia) which left Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza without a dancing partner. But last night ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed the news that promotion moved on to book Souza against surging swede Jack Hermansson for UFC Fort Lauderdale main event.
The event will take place on April 27 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Breaking: Jacare Souza vs. Jack Hermansson is verbally agreed to headline UFC Fight Night on April 27. Hermansson replaces Yoel Romero, who withdrew due to illness. UFC has promised Souza a title shot should he win. A victory would improve his UFC record to 10-3.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 6, 2019
From Jacare's manager, Gilberto Faria: We know how hard it is to find someone to fight Jacare on short notice. Props to Jack for taking the fight. We are glad it's been made clear a win will guarantee Jacare a title shot, something he's pursued for many years."
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 6, 2019
Jacare's title shot, should he win on April 27, would come after a title unification bout between Robert Whittaker and the winner of next week's interim title fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 6, 2019
Jacare also declared he’d willing to retire from sports if a win at Florida doesn’t earn him a middleweight title shot. Unfortunately, he never got a chance at a title in the UFC despite sitting at the top of the division from the past five years. During those years he loses a key fight like a split decision loss to Romero back in 2015 then got knocked out from the hands of Robert Whittaker in 2017 and most recently came up short via split decision loss to Kelvin Gastelum, who’s slated to face Israel Adesanya for an interim 185 pound strap on April 13th at UFC 236.
Hermansson (19-4) is making a quick turn around as he’s coming off a submission win over Dave Branch at UFC Philadelphia on March 30. Jack holds notable wins over the likes of as Gegard Mousasi, Vitor Belfort, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, and Tim Boetsch.
