Report: ‘Jacare’ Souza, David Branch to Collide at UFC 230

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweights David Branch and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza are set to collide at UFC 230 in New York City this November after some back-and-forth between the two camps.

Branch (22-4) had called out the submission specialist after knocking out Thiago Santos in the first round in April, but Souza’s manager told MMA Fighting last month that the Brazilian was initially more interested in a higher-ranked opponent despite agreeing to fight him twice:

“Dave Branch was offered to us twice in 18 months, and Jacare agreed both times, but he jumped ship,” Souza’s manager Gilberto Faria said in June. “Jacare wants to fight someone ranked higher in the middleweight division, like…