UFC on FX 8 Update: ‘Jacare’ Souza-Costa Philippou Official for Co-Main Event

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A rumored bout between former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza and Costas Philippou will serve as the co-main event of UFC on FX 8.

UFC officials recently revealed the booking, which takes place May 18 at Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The evening’s main card is headlined by a pivotal middleweight confrontation between Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold and airs live on FX.

A decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Souza, 33, made his MMA debut in 2003 and six years later joined the Strikeforce middleweight division, where he ran off four straight wins and captured the promotion’s 185-pound championship. Though Souza relinquished his belt to Rockhold in 2011, “Jacare” responded with three consecutive victories to close out his Strikeforce career, most recently submitting UFC vet Ed Herman via kimura on Jan. 12.

Known for his elite punching power, Philippou, also 33, has won five straight fights dating back to August 2011. The native Cypriot competed three times last year, kicking off 2012 with a unanimous decision victory over “TUF 11” winner Court McGee before doing the same to ex-Deep champion Riki Fukuda. Philippou was last seen on Dec. 29, when he stopped Tim Boetsch with third-round strikes at UFC 155.