Luke Rockhold News
Anthony Smith discusses the UFC return of Luke Rockhold: "Defensively, he’s not good enough to beat anybody worth a f**k"
Christopher Taylor - February 26, 2022
Anthony Smith does not believe that former UFC champion Luke Rockhold has the ability to beat anyone worth a f**k. Rockhold has not fought since UFC 239 where he suffered a KO loss to Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight debut. The former middleweight champion is now planning to make his return to the Octagon in June, with his sights set on former 185lbs title challenger Paulo Costa.
Daniel Cormier questions Luke Rockhold wanting Paulo Costa matchup: "I don't quite understand why he wants that fight"
Josh Evanoff - February 24, 2022
Daniel Cormier has questioned his teammate Luke Rockhold’s decision to call out Paulo Costa. The former UFC middleweight champion has been out of the Octagon since July 2019, where he lost to Jan Blachowicz. He was set to make a return last November against Sean Strickland but was forced out due to injury. Now, Rockhold seemingly has an opponent in mind for a return.
Luke Rockhold wants to return in June against Paulo Costa, as long as he makes weight: "I’m not here to fight f*****g cheaters"
Cole Shelton - February 17, 2022
Luke Rockhold is hoping to make his return in June against Paulo Costa. Rockhold has not fought since UFC 239 where he suffered a KO loss to Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight debut. Since then, he was booked to fight Sean Strickland at UFC 268, but was forced out of the bout due to an injury. Now, the former champion says he wants to face Costa next, as long as the Brazilian can make weight.
Michael Bisping praises Luke Rockhold ahead of middleweight return: "You could see a title fight for him pretty quick"
Josh Evanoff - February 11, 2022
Michael Bisping has thrown praise towards his former foe Luke Rockhold. The former UFC middleweight champion last fought in the cage in 2019 at light-heavyweight. He got knocked out by Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239 and discussed retirement following the fight.
Video | Sean Strickland extends disturbing offer to Belal Muhammad: "I want to do some weird sh*t to you man"
Christopher Taylor - October 14, 2021
The war of words between Sean Strickland and Belal Muhammad reached new heights today with the middleweight issuing a disturbing message. The pairs beef started shortly after news broke that Strickland’s slated UFC 268 opponent, former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, had to pullout of the November pay-per-view event due to injury.
Sean Strickland reacts after Luke Rockhold pulls out of UFC 268
Harry Kettle - October 12, 2021
UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has reacted to the news that Luke Rockhold has pulled out of UFC 268. It’s public knowledge that UFC 268 is shaping up to be one of the most stacked cards of the year for the UFC but unfortunately, a grudge match at 185 pounds has been lost after Luke Rockhold revealed a herniated disk will ensure he does not fight Sean Strickland at Madison Square Garden.
Luke Rockhold forced out of UFC 268 due to injury
Andrew Whitelaw - October 11, 2021
Luke Rockhold’s return to action will have to wait after the middleweight star announced that injury has ruled im out of his UFC 268 clash wish Sean Strickland. “There’s no easy way to really say it, but the fight is off in New York,” Rockhold said on his Instagram story. “I ended up herniating a disc in my back. L4, L5. The docs say it’s nothing I can play with. I need to do some treatment and recovery time.”
Kevin Holland takes a swipe at Luke Rockhold, claims the former UFC champ is only returning because he's "broke as a f*ck"
Christopher Taylor - September 30, 2021
Kevin Holland claims that the reason former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is returning to the Octagon is because he’s flat broke. Holland (21-7 MMA) is set to return to action this weekend at UFC Vegas 38 when he squares off with the #14 ranked Kyle Daukaus.
Luke Rockhold warns 'f*cking idiot' Sean Strickland not to come at him in parking lot
Drake Riggs - September 13, 2021
The bad blood between Luke Rockhold and Sean Strickland is heating up. Before their upcoming bout was made official, Strickland (24-3) took to Instagram to address the idea of him taking on Rockhold (16-5). In the video, the surging 185-pound contender let it be known that if he sees Rockhold in the RVCA gym parking lot, he will “walk up to you and smack you in the f*cking face.”
Luke Rockhold shares his thoughts on Jake Paul: “He’s not a real fighter. He’s a tough kid"
Adam D Martin - September 5, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold shared his thoughts on Jake Paul, saying “he’s not a real fighter. He’s a tough kid.” Paul has become one of the bigger names in combat sports over the last few years. The YouTuber-turner-boxer has turned heads with a 4-0 professional boxing record, which includes back-to-back wins over former UFC fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. Still, not everyone is sold on him becoming some sort of champion boxer or MMA fighter. If you ask Rockhold, while there’s a lot to like about Paul, he’s still a very flawed fighter.
Luke Rockhold sizes up "stupid" Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 268
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold sized up his “stupid” opponent Sean Strickland ahead of their upcoming fight at UFC 268. Rockhold takes on Strickland in an important fight at 185lbs on UFC 268 in November. Strickland has won all four of his fights since moving up to middleweight last year — over Uriah Hall, Krzysztof Jotko, Brendan Allen, and Jack Marshman — while Rockhold is returning to middleweight after several years away from the cage. It is an intriguing matchup between two California natives who are known for their entertaining fights inside the Octagon, as well as some of the things that both men have said outside of the cage.
Luke Rockhold criticizes the UFC and Dana White for creating a narrative "for the fans to want to hate on fighters"
Adam D Martin - August 16, 2021
UFC middleweight Luke Rockhold criticized the UFC and Dana White for creating a narrative “for the fans to want to hate on fighters.” Rockhold is set to make his return to the Octagon for the first time in over two years in November at UFC 268 when he takes on rising contender Sean Strickland. Rockhold has voiced his frustrations about the way the UFC has handled their relationship with him in the past, and now that he’s coming back to the Octagon, he continues to vent his issues.
Sean Strickland issues scathing response to Luke Rockhold: “You seem like the kind of p*ssy that runs his f*cking mouth”
Harry Kettle - August 5, 2021
Sean Strickland has hit out at Luke Rockhold after news broke of their potential match-up later this year. Strickland, who is coming off the back of a dominant win over Uriah Hall last weekend, seems to be more than ready to step up to the next level in the middleweight division. Some would’ve preferred to see him get an opponent in the top five, but instead, he’ll lock horns with a former 185-pound champion in the form of Luke Rockhold.
Luke Rockhold scolds Dana White for "stupid" matchmaking tactics used in booking fight with "f*cking nobody" Sean Strickland
Chris Taylor - August 4, 2021
Luke Rockhold was not happy with the “stupid” matchmaking tactics used by Dana White for his upcoming fight with Sean Strickland at UFC 268. Earlier this week the UFC President told reporters that he had offered Rockhold a fight with recent main event winner Sean Strickland. However, according to the former UFC middleweight champion no formal offer was ever made and White’s remarks were just a negotiation tactic.
Luke Rockhold set to make Octagon return at UFC 268 opposite Sean Strickland
Cole Shelton - August 4, 2021
Luke Rockhold will make his UFC return in November. For months now, Rockhold has hinted at a possible return to the Octagon but he claimed all the top middleweights were turning him down. On Tuesday, however, it was revealed the UFC offered him a fight against Sean Strickland.
Luke Rockhold offered return fight against Sean Strickland, says Dana White
Cole Shelton - August 3, 2021
Luke Rockhold had been asking for a top-10 middleweight and he has gotten his wish. UFC president, Dana White has told TSN’s Aaron Brontsteter that Rockhold has been offered Sean Strickland as his return fight. Strickland is now ranked eighth at middleweight and Rockhold has claimed several middleweights don’t want to fight him.
Luke Rockhold claims Khamzat Chimaev declined to fight him in a main event: "I thought he would fight anyone"
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Luke Rockhold was offered a UFC main event in August against Khamzat Chimaev but he claims the undefeated fighter turned it down. Rockhold has talked about a return to the Octagon for quite some time and wanted a top-ranked middleweight. Yet, the former UFC middleweight champion revealed he was offered to headline the August 28 Fight Night card but Chimaev turned it down. He was also offered a three-round fight against Chimaev at UFC 265 on August 7, but that too was declined by the Swede, Rockhold revealed to Ariel Helwani.
Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold grapple at RVCA Gym (Video)
Adam D Martin - June 8, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champions Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold, once bitter rivals, posted a video of them grappling at the RVCA Gym. Bisping and Rockhold fought twice in the Octagon and had one of the most heated rivalries in the UFC during their primes. In November 2014, Bisping and Rockhold met for the first time, with Rockhold winning the fight via second-round submission. They then rematched in June 2016 at UFC 199 and, in one of the greatest upsets in MMA history, Bisping knocked out Rockhold in the first round to take home the UFC middleweight title. Both men were not friendly with each other for many years after that, but as of late they have become more cordial as both men are now training at Jason Parillo’s RVCA Gym.