"Jacare" Souza (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

“Jacare” Souza still has his sights set on winning the UFC’s 185 title, but the Brazilian star says he’ll have no issue retiring, if a title shot continues to evade him.

Souza and his team have been campaigning for a title shot for some time now, as a result of the fighter’s 7-1 run in the UFC. The Brazilian was booked to fight former champ Luke Rockhold last fall, in what might have been a title shot eliminator, but the latter had to withdraw due to injury.

Since then, Souza’s been booked to fight Robert Whittaker on April 15th, while Georges St-Pierre has been granted a bout with reigning champ, Michael Bisping, sometime later this year. Recently Souza spoke to the media in Brazil, and while discussing whether he’s still motivated for his fight with Whittaker, “Jacare” said this (quote via MMA Fighting):

“Oh, man, I’m motivated in fighting,” Souza said. “That doesn’t demotivate me at all. I’m motivated by the challenge that my opponent brings. The belt is the consequence. I’m a believer in God…When I’m choosing my fight, I put a knee on the ground and ask for God to choose a fight for me, and it’s happening.”

“I’m happy to be fighting,” he added. “But I have no problem stopping fighting. I stopped competing in jiu-jitsu in 2005 when I was at the top of my career, and if I think it’s too much for me, that I’m full of it, I can stop fighting. That’s it. I can open my own gym, make as much money as I make fighting, and be happy…”

Souza will face Whittaker at UFC on FOX 24, which will take place in Kansas City, Missouri.