Ronaldo ‘Jacare' Souza signs eight-fight deal with the UFC

Ronaldo Souza won’t become a free agent after UFC on FOX 24, and not for a long time thereafter.

The top-ranked middleweight, who is taking on Robert Whittaker in what was the last fight of his contract with the promotion Saturday night in Kansas City, has signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC, his team confirmed to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.

“Jacare's" fight with Whittaker will be the first bout of his new deal with the promotion.

“I'm very happy,” the Brazilian middleweight wrote on his social media. “New contract signed with the UFC! Let’s go for some more battles!"

Souza (24-2, 1 NC) has won seven of his last eight fights inside the Octagon since 2013, finishing the likes of Vitor Belfort, Gegard Mousasi, Tim Boetsch and Yushin Okami. The only blemish in his UFC run is a controversial split-decision loss to Yoel Romero.