'Jacare' Souza running full training camp in case Weidman or Belfort pull out of UFC 181

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza thinks he should be the number one contender for the UFC middleweight title. His record would agree, and even UFC president Dana White made it sound like Souza would be in line if a title fight wasn't already booked.

Well, Souza is proceeding as if he'll be getting a title shot at UFC 181 in December anyway, with his manager, Gilberto Faria, telling Ariel Helwani this week that "Our plan A is to be the UFC's plan B."

Souza will be taking a few weeks off but then diving into a full training camp, as if he were fighting on the December show. That way, if champion Chris Weidman or challenger Vitor Belfort have to pull out of the fight, he'll be perfectly in stride to step in to take their place.

It's a smart play by Souza, and the worst-case scenario probably just sees him in great shape for a fight a little later on the calendar. White has suggested that Souza will probably have to fight again before receiving a title shot rather than waiting on the winner of the UFC 181 bout, but preparedness is the key to success and victory.