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Considered one of the best middleweight fighters in the world, Ronaldo Souza has his future with the UFC at risk.

After his bout against Robert Whittaker at UFC on Fox 24 in Kansas City, this Saturday, April 15, the Brazilian's contract will expire. However, according to Souza's manager Gilberto Faria, who accompanies the jiu-jitsu ace, fans can be assured that "Jacare" will likely remain in the biggest MMA promotion in the planet.

Faria guaranteed the amount that's being negotiated by Souza with the UFC corresponds to the market's standards and with the merits achieved by the athlete. In view of this, the manager is confident that a settlement will be established with the promotion.

"Paying more is a strong thing," Faria said. "Fighters are professionals. The consequence of a good job is [a] fight for the belt, but at the end of the day, they fight for money. I will not say that there is no chance of him fighting in another event, anything can happen, but the priority is the UFC. I know Bellator is aggressive [in] hiring free agents. But I believe that our work and the value we ask for make sense. I will not do an auction."

In addition to indicating the confidence of a renewal with the UFC, the manager has revealed the reasons why his athlete gives priority to the organization. He assured the grappling ace is well treated and remunerated by the promotion, which are heavy factors behind Souza keeping the UFC as his primary option. However, Faria analyzed that this is not the best time to focus on contractual issues due to the proximity of Souza's fight.

"There is priority for the UFC, without a doubt,. It is the biggest event and platform in the world," Faria said. "We are respected, well treated and well earned. We are trying to seize the moment to negotiate a better contract. Trading has been going on for some time, and that is normal. We are seeing a value for the contract. But the negotiation time is not now, it is very much on top of the fight. After the fight we will reach a value and we will talk."

At 37 years old, Souza is currently third in the UFC middleweight division and is close to a title fight. However, the athlete's manager assured that despite the merit, not even a possible renewal of the Brazilian will give him the certainty that he would have priority in disputing the belt.