Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is willing to go up to heavyweight to fight fellow ex-UFC champion Fabricio Werdum.
With Fabricio Werdum’s scheduled UFC 211 fight vs. Ben Rothwell currently off the table due to a potential USADA violation for Rothwell, Werdum is in need of a new opponent. He expects to face one of Alistair Overeem or Cain Velasquez in the summer, but one man who is interested in fighting “Vai Cavalo” is ... Luke Rockhold?
Why yes, it is former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. According to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, Rockhold is angling to go up to heavyweight and settle their longstanding feud.
On Wednesday’s episode of UFC Tonight, Rockhold was a special guest co-host, and he elaborated why he wants to move up two weight classes for such a big challenge.
“Everyone’s steaming over this new fight I brought up. I think me and [Fabricio] Werdum got some old beef from Strikeforce. He’s a guy I’ve always wanted to fight,” Rockhold revealed (via Fox Sports). “I’ve thought it through and I like the style matchup.
“Given what’s going on in the middleweight division right now, screw that, I’m coming to heavyweight. Let’s do this.”
Rockhold (15-3) hasn’t fought since losing his middleweight belt to Michael Bisping at UFC 199 in June. He was scheduled to rematch Ronaldo Souza at UFC Melbourne last November, but had to withdraw due to injury. Werdum (21-6-1) did fight once after he lost his heavyweight title to Stipe Miocic, earning a unanimous decision win over Travis Browne at UFC 203. He recently called Rockhold a “b-tch guy” and said he loved when Bisping dropped him.
Other notable instances of back-and-forth jawing between Werdum and Rockhold include Fabricio calling Luke “Cockyhold” for losing to Bisping, while Rockhold said he wasn’t surprised that Werdum, whom he called a “joke,” lost his belt to Miocic. Early last year, Rockhold said he wanted Werdum, to which Fabricio responded by calling Luke a “wimp.”
Does he really cut from 225 or is he putting on weight cuz that's a huge jump. I think he could win if his cardio holds cuz Werdum doesn't do well against faster strikers.
I'd watch for sure. I'm very curious about this call-out from Rockhold.
Werdum is no slouch on the feet - I think stand-up wise Rockhold enjoys the speed advantage but nothing too significant.
The bit that interests me will be when they hit the mat...
Rockhold seems to be ultra confident (he previously challenged JBJ to a grappling match) in his ground game -
I'm very curious to find out if he's just being the same over-confident d*ck as back vs Bisping or his grappling really is that good
I think Luke is out of his element. I started believing in Werdum's striking 100% after the Roy Nelson fight. He's obviously superior on the ground as well.
Also Werdum want's out of the UFC as he's got a huge deal with Russia on the table. So if you want Werdum this is your shot at him(he might also have to face Stipe/JDS winner) so they can lock him down.
Did anyone think Rockhold saw old clips of Wanderlei & Werdum sparring (from 5 years ago) & feel emboldened by it?
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