RISING UFC middleweight Rob Whittaker is convinced Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza will be just another scalp on his way to becoming Australia’s first UFC champion, saying: “I’ll slog my way through every name until that belt falls in my lap”.

As announced on the UFC 209 broadcast this morning, Whittaker will fight Brazilian superstar Souza -- the number three-ranked middleweight contender -- at UFC on Fox 24 in Kansas City on April 15.

Apart from being the biggest fight of the Sydneysider’s career, the event will also be shown on American free-to-air television.

media_camera Sydney UFC fighter Rob Whittaker will fight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza. Picture: Brett Costello

Currently ranked sixth in the division, Whittaker is also on a six fight win streak in the UFC.

“This fight against Jacare is massive for me,’’ Whittaker told The Daily Telegraph today. “The biggest fight of my career no doubt.

“And a win, it puts me right up there.

“Whether it’s a title shot or another big name, who knows? But I’m going to slog my way through every name in this division until that belt finally falls into my lap.”

Whittaker was supposed to get a first hand look at Souza back in November, when the Brazilian was slated to fight former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold as the headline event on Australia’s Melbourne card.

media_camera Whittaker has labelled the fight as the biggest of his career

But when Rockhold withdrew with injury, Whittaker was pushed up to headline against rising American Derek Brunson, whom he finished via a first round TKO.

“And after that fight I told you I wanted a top five guy,’’ Whittaker continued. “And that’s what the UFC has given me.

“I really feel like things are building up perfectly.

“I’ve earned my way into this spot. And that is the way I want it to be. I’m here to fight.”

Asked his thoughts on Souza, the 26-year-old joked: “Well, his jiu-jitsu is okay.

“He’s just a tough dude. A top five guy. You know he’ll always go out on his shield too so it’s going to be a great fight.”

media_camera Ronaldo Jacare Souza is the number three-ranked middleweight contender

And as for his thoughts on the announcement earlier this week that reigning middleweight champ Michael Bisping will fight returning legend Georges St-Pierre?

“It is what it is,’’ Whittaker said. “I’m not in a position to say which people should or shouldn’t fight.

“But whatever happens, happens.

“I don’t care who has the belt ... I’ll get to them all eventually.”