Chris Weidman says Colby Covington is in for a rude awakening when they meet in the co-main event of RAF 09 on Saturday in Dallas, arguing that his wrestling credentials far exceed those of Covington’s previous opponents.
Speaking to MMA Junkie Radio, Weidman acknowledged Covington’s skills while making clear he sees himself as a significant step up in competition.
“I watched his two matches that he had with Rockhold and Dillon Danis. He has a decent single leg. I think he’s tough. He was a great wrestler when he was competing, and I think he’s a goer, and I’m a goer, as well. I love putting a pace on and trying to get guys tired and break them. He’s tough. He’s 2-0. I will say I don’t think Dillon Danis and Luke Rockhold are on my level respectfully in terms of wrestling at all. So, I do think I’m a big step up in competition for him, and I appreciate him calling me out and wanting a tougher challenge.”
Weidman said he does not concede any clear advantage to Covington, including speed.
“I don’t know if I even give him the speed advantage. I think I’m pretty speedy when it comes to wrestling, but I’ll have to showcase that. His advantages? I don’t know. I don’t know what he’s planning on doing. I think it’s an uphill battle for him to be honest. It’s definitely a tough one. I just hope he doesn’t stall the whole time and run away from me. If he wrestles with me, I think it’s going to be really tough for him. I’m big, I’m strong, I’m good in a lot of different positions in wrestling. I have a lot of freestyle experience. I was a multiple-time All-American in freestyle and also Greco in high school, then I was training for the Olympics in 2008.”
Weidman is making his RAF debut in the bout. Covington enters 2-0 in the promotion following wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis.
Luke Rockhold has added a controversial layer to fight week ahead of UFC 328, claiming he’s heard talk that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov could be present in Khamzat Chimaev’s corner.
“Borz” is set to defend his middleweight title for the first time against Sean Strickland in the main event this weekend at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. But beyond the matchup itself, outside narratives are already shaping the event’s tone.
Speaking during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Rockhold claimed:
“It sounds like we might have Kadyrov in his corner, so I think he’s pretty safe within his mindset. We’ll see how it goes. This fight week is gonna be interesting,”
The former UFC middleweight champion also referenced recent comments from Strickland, adding another unpredictable element to the buildup.
“Sean was saying he’s gonna bring a gun. I’m not sure if you can bring a gun out there in New Jersey, but they better check it. Sean is not a real threat in the world of what he’s dealt with and who he deals with.”
Luke Rockhold says he’s heard rumors that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov could be in Khamzat Chimaev’s corner at UFC 328:
"It sounds like we might have Kadyrov in his corner, so I think he's pretty safe within his mindset. We'll see how it goes. This fight week is gonna be… pic.twitter.com/1mMSqpzkP3
Chimaev’s connection to Kadyrov has been well-documented throughout his career. Following his title-winning performance against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025, the “Borz” traveled to Chechnya, where he was welcomed by Kadyrov and celebrated in front of a large crowd.
The relationship between the two dates back several years. The controversial leader attended Chimaev’s wedding in 2022, and the pair have frequently been seen training together. However, those ties have also drawn scrutiny, with Kadyrov facing international criticism and sanctions over alleged human rights abuses.
At one point, Chimaev’s association with Kadyrov reportedly complicated his ability to travel to the United States. Those issues have since been resolved, allowing him to compete freely under the UFC banner.
Luke Rockhold is backing Khamzat Chimaev to dominate Sean Strickland at UFC 328, and his reasoning goes well beyond fight analysis.
The former UFC middleweight champion recently trained with Chimaev and spoke to Adam Zubayraev about the May 9 title fight in Newark, New Jersey, offering his take on both competitors, making his allegiances clear.
“Sean is effective and he’s scrappy and he hangs in there,” Rockhold said. “Khamzat is so much more talented, it’s about who can relax and implement their game plan the best and Khamzat’s doing everything he needs to and I think he can really have a masterclass.”
Rockhold then went further, framing the fight not just as a matchup between two fighters but as a contest between two people of very different character in his view.
“I would love to see him put this f***ing American away,” Rockhold said. “I’m American, but I like good people. Khamzat is a great person, through and through. Sean Strickland, he’s a piece of s**t.”
Strickland’s popularity has surged on the back of his upset knockout of Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 and his unfiltered public persona, though that same persona has also drawn significant criticism. His social media activity has included offensive posts targeting various groups, including a photoshopped image of himself as an ICE agent ahead of his February win over Anthony Hernandez.
Rockhold also addressed Chimaev’s mental state heading into the defense compared to his previous run toward the title.
“I think last time out there was a little bit of tension, he wanted to win the world title,” Rockhold said. “Now he can go out there and be his best and I expect the best from Khamzat.”
The pre-fight tension between the two fighters has escalated publicly, with Chimaev suggesting a street encounter with Strickland could be dangerous and Strickland responding that Chimaev was the last person in America who should be making threats. Rockhold dismissed the idea that any of that would get inside Chimaev’s head.
“Piss him off? I doubt that, no. Sean doesn’t roll as deep as my man here, so I think we’re in good hands and a fight’s a fight. You’ve got to play the game.”
The Global Fight League is doing take two and has announced plans to restart operations in 2026.
The GFL announced their intention to finally get events started through a statement on social media — the promotion’s first statement since the spring.
To the athletes, fans and partners, thank you for your patience and support. We’ve been hard at work and look forward to sharing what’s next. Stay tuned, more to come on our plans for 2026.#TogetherWeFightpic.twitter.com/uyL7CHp1hS
“To the athletes, fans and partners, thank you for your patience and support. We’ve been hard at work and look forward to sharing what’s next,” the GLF’s statement said. “Stay tuned, more to come on our plans for 2026.”
The GFL also announced a rematch between former UFC middleweight champions Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold, which the GFL also promoted through a social media post. No information about an event date or location has been revealed, however.
The GFL was formally launched in late 2024, intending to re-introduce the team-based format that was seen with the IFL in the mid-2000s. The plan was to have six teams be formed, based in London, Dubai, Sao Paulo, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, with a points-based system and events held throughout the year at each of the various locations and a champion team crowned at the end of the year.
The league promoted various different benefits from fighters not seen in other MMA promotions, including revenue share, retirement benefits, and insurance coverage.
Darren Till displayed violence in the way his fight with Luke Rockhold ended, folding him like a lawn chair in the third round to claim the inaugural Misfits Boxing bridgerweight championship in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22.
Rockhold got off to a strong start with crisp striking, but Till managed to land a pair of strong left hands late — with one of them being enough to drop Rockhold bad. Rockhold managed to get up at eight and made it into round two. Rockhold got to working the jab again during the second, but Till landed a flurry that appeared to look like it’d result in a standing eight-count — but the referee did not count it.
Till would finish things in the third round, pressuring Rockhold into the corner before landing a hard-hitting, brutal combination that dropped Rockhold out cold bad, completely flattened and mangled against the ropes.
Darren Till KOs Luke Rockhold In Brutal Fashion At Misfits Boxing 22
OH MY LORD THAT WAS ONE OF THE NASTIEST KO’S IN MISFITS HISTORY!!
Till was once considered a top rising name in MMA at welterweight, going 17-0-1 and challenging Tyron Woodley in a welterweight title fight at UFC 228. He’d lose the fight, starting a run of five losses in six fights over a four-year period that ended with a loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282. Till has since found success in boxing with an exhibition win over Mohammad Mutie and victories in Misfits Boxing earlier this year over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart.
Rockhold went 16-6 in MMA, which includes middleweight title reigns in both Strikeforce and the UFC. Rockhold ended Chris Weidman’s undefeated record at UFC 194 to become UFC champion before dropping the title to Michael Bisping at UFC 199. After a win over David Branch, Rockhold lost three straight to end his MMA career, getting knocked out by Yoel Romero and Jan Blachowicz at UFC 221 and UFC 239, respectively, and dropping a decision to Paulo Costa at UFC 278.
Misfits Boxing 22, also known as MF & DAZN X Series 22: Ring of Thrones, took place on Saturday, August 30, at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights.
In the main event, former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till delivered a devastating third-round knockout over ex-UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold to capture the inaugural MFB bridgerweight crown.
Adding to the excitement, former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson secured his first win in six years, ending a historic eight-fight losing skid in the UFC, with a third-round TKO victory over Salt Papi for the MFB interim middleweight title.
Additionally, the Misfits Boxing 22 card featured a rare MMA clash as the controversial Dillon Danis made his long-awaited return to competition after more than six years, submitting Warren Spencer via a 15-second guillotine to capture the inaugural MF MMA light heavyweight championship.
Misfits Boxing 22 Results
Main Card
MFB bridgerweight title: Darren Till def. Luke Rockhold via knockout (R3, 1:08)
Interim MFB middleweight title: Tony Ferguson def. Salt Papi via (R3, 2:43)
Tensions are heating up between Darren Till and Luke Rockhold ahead of their weekend clash.
Both former UFC stars are set to face each other in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22: ‘Ring of Thrones’, where they will battle for the inaugural MFB bridgerweight title in a six-round showdown this Saturday at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.
𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 ⚔️
Darren Till takes on his biggest challenge yet in former UFC champion Luke Rockhold for the MFB Bridgerweight Championship. 🎖️
Salt Papi makes his triumphant return against the UFC veteran and legend Tony Ferguson for the MFB Interim Title. 😤… pic.twitter.com/QKhIkgzEz2
Till is poised to make his third appearance for the Misfits Boxing banner. Earlier this year, “The Gorilla” secured back-to-back victories over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart. Since leaving the UFC in February 2023, where he compiled a 6-5-1 record, the former welterweight title challenger has found a new home in boxing.
Meanwhile, Rockhold is set to make his gloved boxing debut after dabbling in bare-knuckle competition with BKFC in April 2023. He was last seen in action at Karate Combat 45 in April 2024, where he secured a TKO win over Joe Schilling. The former UFC middleweight champion left the organization after a unanimous decision defeat to Paulo Costa at UFC 278 in August 2022.
Image: @lukerockhold/Instagram
Darren Till And Luke Rockhold Agree To Sudden Rule Change Amid Heated Faceoff
On Thursday, Darren Till and Luke Rockhold attended the pre-fight press conference, radiating the same fiery tension that marked their initial faceoff last month. The presser quickly escalated, with both fighters exchanging heated words on the mic. Things predictably spiraled out of control, forcing security to step in and separate them before it turned into a full-blown melee.
Amid the volley of profanities, “The Gorilla” confronted Rockhold over his alleged refusal to agree to an eight-round bout.
“Let’s make it eight rounds,” Darren Till said. “You said to Mams [Taylor] you would pull out of the fight if it was eight. I’m ready for eight. So who’s the coke head?”
Rockhold quickly countered and took the challenge, but even a handshake attempt on stage nearly sparked a full-on fight. The fighters ultimately appeared to settle on an eight-round main event, with Till threatening to pull out if the condition wasn’t met.
The face-off quickly mirrored the intensity from earlier, with Till continuing to demand an eight-round bout while security held both opponents back. At that moment, the Scouser shoved Rockhold, nearly igniting chaos.
Luke Rockhold‘s old rival Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on Luke’s upcoming boxing showdown against Darren Till.
As we know, Luke Rockhold has had a rollercoaster ride of a career. While he was UFC middleweight champion, he’s also had a number of high profile defeats both in and outside of the promotion. Now, on Saturday night, he is preparing for his next challenge as he looks set to collide with Darren Till in the main event of Misfits Boxing 22.
For some, this is a silly fight that shouldn’t be happening. For others, though, it’s the kind of contest that brings in a lot of intrigue, if only because it’s a fight we never got to see in the cage.
In a recent video, Michael Bisping predicted that Darren Till will be the one to get his hand raised in his collision with Luke Rockhold.
Michael Bisping’s view on Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold
“So yeah, I think Darren Till goes out there and probably gets the knockout. Might even be in the first round. But I tell you what, may the best man win. I wish Luke Rockhold nothing but the best. I got nothing against this man. I actually think he’s a solid human being. I got to hang out with him a bit down at the gym last time after the training session. He’s a good dude.
“We were just competing at the same time and yeah, I was talking a bit of [expletive] back in the day. He was talking a bit of [expletive]. That’s what we do. We’re trying to sell fights. But when that’s all out the window, the man’s a good human being and he’s just trying to live his life the best way he can by using these things to make a living. And so is Darren Till.”
“My official prediction: Luke Rockhold gets knocked out by Darren Till probably rounds two or three.”
Luke Rockhold sent a pretty interesting ‘threat’ to Sean Strickland about a possible fight between the two men in the future.
As we know, the UFC – and mixed martial arts – days are over for Luke Rockhold. In the present, he’s preparing to face off against Darren Till in the realm of influencer boxing with Misfits. Their collision will go down at the end of August and while many aren’t big fans of the Misfits model, there’s no denying that they’ve been able to lure in some interesting names, and this contest is no different.
One thing that Luke Rockhold has never been afraid to do is talk trash. He’s a former UFC champion, he’s been involved in some huge fights at 185 pounds, and he’s had some legendary rivalries over the years. At this point in his career, though, he needs a big performance in order to prove that he can still get the job done athletically.
In a recent interview, Rockhold had the following to say when discussing the likes of Mike Perry and Sean Strickland.
Luke Rockhold makes a series of wild statements
“I’d like to clean up Perry’s little ass. Wax that, lubricate him a little bit, you know what I mean? Get that thing nice and wet and just rip it up. Jake, if you want to fight a real fighter, we could take Jake. I don’t really like Strickland. Maybe bend him over and make him call me daddy.”
Luke Rockhold suggests that the incident that he and Darren Till recently got into might very well be a preview of how chaotic their upcoming boxing match will be.
Rockhold and Till got into a physical altercation at a recent press conference ahead of their fight that main events Misfits Boxing 22: Ring of Thrones on August 30.
In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Rockhold says that based on what he saw in Till at that press conference, as well as the negotiations and discussions about what weight the fight would take at, he questions if Till is preparing for the fight with true intent.
“It’s always good to get your eyes on the man you’re going to fight. I think he’s a little scared. He’s making a lot of excuses and he’s making up a lot of things in his head. So we’ll see what he comes with.
“He’s looking a little fat right now, so we’ll see how seriously he’s taking this thing. I’ve been working my a** off.”
Luke Rockhold Ready For Anything Darren Till Throws At Him At Misfits Boxing 22
The fight with Till will mark the professional boxing debut for Rockhold, the former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion. Since parting ways with the UFC in 2022, Rockhold has lost to Mike Perry in a BKFC bout and defeated Joe Schilling in Karate Combat.
Meanwhile, Till, the former UFC welterweight title challenger, won an exhibition bout with Mohammad Mutie (a fight that resulted in a post-match brawl) before victories over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart earlier this year.
When discussing his strategy for the fight with Till, Rockhold said it will boil down to offensive pressure.
“I plan on bullying him around,” Rockhold said. “He don’t like pressure. He likes his space. I’m going to pimp him a bit, I’m going to feel him out, but I feel like I’m going to push the pressure, control him, and big brother him a bit.
“I plan on out-boxing him. I’m going to relax. I’m going to be myself. You got to respect Till; he’s got good hands. So, I got to get in his head, play the game, and look to execute. I think I can knock him out. I’m going to fight to win.”
Rockhold added that while it may not be a boxing match, and not an MMA one, he won’t be prepared to bring out MMA weaponry if he needs to.
Till, in fact, once was scheduled to face Tommy Fury before Fury withdrew, claiming he wouldn’t fight Till after Till’s promise to resort to “MMA tactics” if behind on the scorecards.
“If Darren wants to throw kicks, we can throw kicks,” Rockhold said. “No disqualification for kicks as long as he throws first.”
Misfits Boxing 22: Game of Thrones takes place on August 30 from the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The card will also feature Tony Ferguson taking on Salt Papi in the co-main event, as well as Dillon Danis’ return against Warren Spencer. The card can be viewed on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
At 41, Tony Ferguson is set to pen the next chapter of his combat sports journey.
Ferguson is scheduled to make his influencer boxing debut on August 30 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England where he’ll square off against Salt Papi (real name Nathaniel Bustamante) for the MFB interim middleweight title, Misfits Boxing announced Wednesday.
The matchup will serve as the co-main attraction of Misfits Boxing 22: ‘Ring of Thrones,’ headlined by a showdown between former UFC standouts Darren Till and Luke Rockhold for the MFB bridgerweight title.
𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 ⚔️
Darren Till takes on his biggest challenge yet in former UFC champion Luke Rockhold for the MFB Bridgerweight Championship. 🎖️
Salt Papi makes his triumphant return against the UFC veteran and legend Tony Ferguson for the MFB Interim Title. 😤… pic.twitter.com/QKhIkgzEz2
Till is gearing up for his third outing under the Misfits Boxing banner. Earlier this year, “The Gorilla” picked up back-to-back wins over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart. Since parting ways with the UFC in February 2023, where he held a 6-5-1 record, the former welterweight title challenger has focused fully on boxing.
Meanwhile, Rockhold is set to make his gloved boxing debut after testing the waters in bare-knuckle competition with BKFC in April 2023. He most recently competed at Karate Combat 45 in April 2024, where he earned a TKO victory over Joe Schilling. The former UFC middleweight champion parted ways with the promotion following a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278 in August 2022.
When Was Tony Ferguson’s Most Recent Bout?
Tony Ferguson was once regarded as one of the most feared fighters in the UFC, having captured the interim lightweight title during a dominant 12-fight winning streak that solidified his place among the elite. However, the tide eventually turned, and he found himself on the wrong side of history, enduring a tough eight-fight skid.
“El Cucuy” suffered a first-round submission loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi in August 2024, marking his final appearance under the UFC banner. Despite the setback, Tony Ferguson never seriously considered retirement. He initially signed with the Global Fight League for a bout against Dillon Danis, but the promotion folded before hosting its inaugural event.
Image: UFC.com
Meanwhile, Salt Papi is a standout in the influencer boxing world, having burst onto the scene with a pair of highlight-reel knockouts. The Filipino-born content creator holds a respectable 6-2 record.
A number of veterans have their first outings under the Global Fight League (GFL) banner confirmed, and the opening matchups include a rematch between former UFC middleweight champions Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold.
After years of preparation, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time this coming April, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure. 15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end.
The official GFL social media account announced the first fight on Thursday. As expected after Luke Rockhold was traded from Team Dubai to Team Los Angeles, the Californian will run it back with Team New York’s Weidman, a fellow former UFC middleweight champion.
The pair first collided way back in 2015, with Rockhold emerging victorious from the Fight of the Night at UFC 194 after stopping the then-defending champ in round four.
Rockhold, who was also the last 185-pound titleholder in Strikeforce, has competed just once in MMA since 2019. After consecutive knockout losses to Yoel Romero and Jan Błachowicz, the 40-year-old memorably bowed out of the UFC in defeat against Paulo Costa. He’s since gone 1-1 away from MMA, losing to Mike Perry in BKFC and stopping Joe Schilling under the Karate Combat banner.
Weidman, meanwhile, initially appeared to announce his retirement from the sport last month but was quickly announced as the GFL’s latest big-name signing. The Baldwin native has had his hand raised once in three fights since returning from a broken leg. Weidman was most recently finished by Eryk Anders at UFC 309 last November.
The rematch between Rockhold and Weidman wasn’t the only confirmed first-round matchup, with the GFL also revealing a clash between Team Miami’s Yoel Romero and Maurício “Shogun” Rua of Team São Paulo.
The inclusion of Rua was among many that raised concerns in the MMA community. The 43-year-old looked a shadow of his former self when he was knocked out by Ihor Potieria in January 2023. Despite the retirement that followed that fight being widely supported, the former UFC and PRIDE standout now has Romero’s power to deal with.
While four years older than Rua, the game doesn’t appear to have left “Soldier of God” as of yet. Since a loss in his Bellator debut, the Cuban has won three out of four fights in the cage, most recently defeating fellow former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos under the PFL banner last February.
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland continues to be the recipient of criticism for his latest performance.
Strickland fell to a 1-2 record since winning the gold in August 2023 this past weekend. His memorable title win over Israel Adesanya was quickly followed by the end of his reign courtesy of Dricus Du Plessis 13 months ago, and the South African once again got the better of the polarizing American on Saturday.
The pair ran it back Down Under in Sydney, Australia, headlining the UFC 312 pay-per-view. Strickland didn’t come close to redemption, instead suffering a lopsided decision defeat at the hands of “Stillknocks,” whose punches even resulted in a badly broken nose for the challenger.
During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, another ex-UFC middleweight champ in Luke Rockhold gave his assessment of Strickland’s display.
Like many in the MMA community, the 40-year-old was not impressed — to say the least…
“If someone breaks your nose, you gotta fight like a f*cking man and sack up,” Rockhold said. “This motherf*cker talks such a big game and then he b*tches out and basically quits in a fight after he breaks his nose.
“When does (Strickland) ever f*cking put his ass on the line and f*cking bite down and really go for it through a whole process of a fight, not just the last 10 seconds of a round? Look at him out there,” Rockhold added.
Strickland has long faced heavy flak for his fight style, which sees a low-aggression approach follow fight weeks that usually involve proclamations of an impending bloody “war.”
Brad Tate has been working as a cutman in the UFC for as long as fans can remember. He can be spotted in most events inspecting fighters before they enter the Octagon and working on cuts and other injuries between rounds.
Despite not being a fighter, Tate has gradually become popular in MMA circles as one of the most consistent members of the UFC team like Bruce Buffer. He’s unsurprisingly developed great relationships with several UFC fighters, including Charles Oliveira, Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Burns, Jamahal Hill, and many more.
Tate has been dealing with mixed martial artists for almost a decade, and he’s now revealed a former UFC middleweight champion to be the toughest fighter to work with…
Cutman Tate Jokingly Claims No One Likes Luke Rockhold Except Daniel Cormier
Tate appeared on the Believe You Me podcast hosted by Michael Bisping recently. Right away, “The Count” asked the cutman for some gossip as he’s had countless interactions with the UFC roster.
To Bisping’s happiness, Tate called Luke Rockhold one of the worst fighters he’s had to work with in the UFC. In 2016 at UFC 199, Bisping knocked out Rockhold to win the UFC middleweight championship in what remains one of the biggest upsets in the sport to date.
Without going into much detail, Tate stated that Rockhold caused problems consistently. The cutman appreciated that Bisping took away the UFC middleweight championship from him which is enough to determine how much he dislikes Rockhold.
“I will give you the one person because he’s not in the UFC anymore and you fought him. F*****g Luke Rockhold was a pain in a**. Like, bro, listen to me, I know he was a good fighter. I don’t think anybody except DC like Luke Rockhold.”
Tate isn’t a fan of Rockhold calling out UFC fighters like Sean Strickland either, now that he’s left the promotion. He also added that criticism regarding his demeanor fueled the former UFC middleweight champion to act in the same manner instead of mending his ways.
“I see him now, and like, he was talking sh*t about Sean Strickland. And I’m like, nobody cares bro. Like this whole, Dana call me I’ll go in there and handle this for you. It’s like, dude, he was a problem like and he was just, dude, him losing the belt was like the best thing for him but like I said. I mean he’s not in the UFC anymore but he was the one guy that just, oh my god, even to just be around him, you would just be like, bro, why are you such a d**k? And honestly, you could tell him that he was a d**k and it just, I think that fueled him even more and made him even more like, yeah, let me be that way.”
The UFC cutman claims to have rarely had bad experiences with fighters which is why it is surprising how much he despises the time spent with Rockhold. Luckily, for him, it’s unlikely that the middleweight will ever return to the promotion following his loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278.
Costa made his return from a lengthy layoff this past February, squaring off against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in Anaheim. The highly entertaining affair came 18 months on from his previous outing at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City in Utah.
On that night, the Brazilian welcomed former titleholder Luke Rockhold back to action. While the altitude saw fatigue heavily affect their showdown, the three-round affair still featured a number of notable moments, chief among them being the veteran’s gruesome wipe of his bloody face on Costa in the dying moments.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Costa vs. Rockhold fight from UFC 278 on its official YouTube channel.
Be it in a similar fashion or a more comfortable one, Costa will be fully focused on having his hand raised inside the Octagon again this weekend inside Newark’s Prudential Center.
And given that Strickland entered this year with the gold in his possession, such a feat would no doubt leave the Brazilian within touching distance of a second opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.
John McCarthy has come out and said why he understands Luke Rockhold’s callout of Paul Costa for his return fight in the UFC.
Rockhold was scheduled to return to competitive action against Sean Strickland at UFC 268 in November of last year. However, at that time, the former UFC middleweight champion was forced to withdraw as he herniated a disc in his back.
The 37-year-old is now eyeing a return to the Octagon at some point this year, as he chose to call out Costa as a potential opponent.
Photo via Instagram @lukerockhold
McCarthy recently spoke on his podcast with Josh Thomson, where he evaluated Rockhold’s potential return against Costa as being good a matchup for the veteran. (h/t SportsKeeda)
“Yes, Luke at times gets too much into being a standup guy,” McCarthy explained. “Cause he’s slick, he’s a technical fighter. He’s got beautiful kicks, he hides them well, he’s got power on them, but his ground game is what made Luke Rockhold who he was.”
“They don’t give him credit for being as good as he is, and Luke on the ground is good. That dude is phenomenal on the ground. And there’s a huge difference between his ground game and Paulo Costa’s ground game. So, if I look at this fight, I go, this is not a bad fight for him. I understand why he’s calling him out.”
Costa, like Rockhold, is now on a two-fight losing streak following his loss to Marvin Vettori in October of last year. This means a fight between the pair could make sense regarding the landscape of the middleweight division currently.
Both fighters could see themselves reentering the title picture with a victory. However, many are still left wondering whether there is fight left in Rockhold, who would be returning to 185lbs for the first time since his knockout loss to Yoel Romero in 2018. Yet a two-year break might be all that was required for the veteran to rest and recover for a special comeback.
Do you agree with John McCarthy that Paulo Costa is a good matchup for Luke Rockhold?
Anthony Smith has continued to take shots at Luke Rockhold.
After Smith fought Jon Jones, Rockhold began blasting “Lionheart” for being a bad middleweight that was able to get a title shot. That began a feud as Smith told him to move up so they can fight. And after Rockhold did move up and got KO’d by Jan Blachowicz, their rivalry only increased.
Now, as Rockhold is angling to face Paulo Costa next time out, Smith doesn’t think it is a good idea, as he thinks the former champ would get knocked out.
“He’s not able to stay awake at work… He falls asleep on the job all the time. But it’s just like he sucks now. And ok that’s a lie,” Smith said on Michael Bisping’s podcast (via Sportskeeda). “I don’t want to put it out there like that. I think he’s very skilled. He’s super dangerous, he’s got insane kicks, he’s got good power, he’s an insane wrestler, he’s a fantastic guy on top. But defensively, he’s not good enough to beat anybody worth a f**k.”
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Given both Smith and Rockhold do not have a fight booked, perhaps this recent trash-talk will allow this fight to happen. It would be a big fight, as it could headline a Fight Night card or be on a pay-per-view, as the two don’t like one another. However, Rockhold has made it clear he isn’t interested in fighting at light heavyweight.
Anthony Smith is coming off a submission win over Ryan Spann, which was his third win in a row as he also beat Jimmy Crute and Devin Clark. He’s currently ranked fourth at light heavyweight while Luke Rockhold has not fought since UFC 239, where he was KO’d by Jan Blachowicz.
Do you agree with Anthony Smith’s harsh assessment of Luke Rockhold?
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is raring to go and targeting a return to the Octagon this summer.
Rockhold hasn’t been in action since a brutal 2019 knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239. With consecutive devastating losses to the Polish powerhouse and Cuban destroyer Yoel Romero, it’s understandable why the 37-year-old has taken a hiatus from the sport.
But with his recovery going well, the Californian recently teased a comeback. In a post uploaded to Instagram, Rockhold can be seen hard at work in the ring. In the accompanying caption, he seemingly hinted towards a potential showdown with #5-ranked contender Paulo Costa.
While Rockhold was keeping his cards close to his chest regarding the post during a recent appearance on Submission Radio, he did confirm that a clash with “Borrachinha” is an option if the right terms are met.
“It’s an option. It’s a very viable option. If terms are met, you know, we could have a dance.”
While “The Italian Dream” went through with the bout and ultimately had his hand raised, Rockhold has assured Costa and the UFC that he wouldn’t have the same attitude to a weight miss.
“Yeah, I’m not here to fight f*cking cheaters,” Rockhold asserted. “If weight is met (the fight could happen) unless too much wine is consumed, you never know. Weight has to be made. Weight has to be met. There are too many weak-ass people trying to get advantages. I’ve killed myself to make weight and f*cking do things right. Can’t say the same for the rest of them. I ain’t gonna do that again. I ain’t gonna fight a guy who misses weight purposely to gain an advantage. F*ck no… It’s weak-minded. It’s a very similar thing to excusing a loss to drinking too much wine the night before a world title fight.”
Rockhold Hopes To Show Costa & His Liver The Door
Ultimately, if Costa can prove that he’s able to make the 186-pound limit for non-title middleweight bouts, Rockhold is open to sharing the Octagon with the former title challenger, suggesting it would be a “fun fight.”
Admitting his dislike for Costa, the former champ claimed the Brazilian’s “disrespect” for the sport of MMA motivates him to dispatch “The Eraser” inside the cage. Channeling his inner Hannibal Lector, Rockhold revealed his desire to feast on Costa’s ‘wine-affected’ liver.
“He’s a guy that I don’t like. I think (he) disrespects the sport,” said Rockhold. “That motivates me to f*cking correct it. It’s a guy who’s obviously, you know, top-ranked, somehow., someway; when he can’t even make weight. If anything, he should be ranked in the 205-pound division. I don’t care for the guy, I’ll tell you that. I think it’s a fun fight. I think I can go show him the door. I think you have a guy who f*cking wants to make excuses on wine and weight. His liver’s obviously affected, so let’s go munch on it,” concluded Rockhold.
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Having seen a 42-year-old Glover Teixeira and 38-year-old Blachowicz deliver title-winning performances in recent years, it seems Rockhold is fancying his chances for another run for gold.
If Rockhold can deliver an impressive performance against a powerhouse like Costa, maybe “The Last Stylebender” will have a new contender to deal with.
How do you think a fight between Luke Rockhold and Paulo Costa would play out?
It’s safe to say that former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold isn’t a fan of Sean Strickland’s antics.
Rockhold is working towards a return to the UFC in 2022, nearly three years after his last fight against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239. He has alluded to a move back to middleweight after falling flat in his light heavyweight debut.
Rockhold was supposed to face Strickland at UFC 268 to wrap up 2021, but Rockhold pulled out with an injury. Strickland was removed from the card and instead fought and defeated Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47.
Tensions flared when Strickland threatened Rockhold on his social media pages, going as far as to promise a fight with Rockhold if the two ever met in a parking lot.
“I don’t have a lot of respect for the man, what that man says; I don’t think anybody does,” Rockhold said. “I don’t think he really knows what he’s talking about. When you’ve done that many drugs, I don’t know if things really come out clearly. I don’t know if there’s much of a thorough process to what he does. I think why he’s so effective is he doesn’t think, he doesn’t know. He just fights with stupidity. It actually benefits him to a certain extent.”
Following his win over Hermansson, Strickland appears to be knocking on the door for a potential middleweight title shot. He could earn a No. 1 contender fight next or a possible showdown with his adversary Rockhold.
As of this writing, Anthony Smith never was able to get a hold of Luke Rockhold at Walmart. But here’s a story where he expressed a willingness to do just that, even naming his preferred isle for the desired altercation.
The following article is published in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day Three Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 8, 2019, 6:57 PM]
Headline: Anthony Smith Would Fight ‘A**hole’ Luke Rockhold At Walmart
Author: Jon Fuentes
Anthony “Lionheart” Smith is currently expected to be Jon Jones’ next challenger for the 205-pound title. However, it appears he could already have another opponent at light heavyweight lined up as well.
Recently, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold took aim at Smith. Hyping his eventual jump to 205 pounds, Rockhold is also eying a fight with Jones. However, with talk of Jones likely facing Smith next, Rockhold said “Bones” should quit wasting his time with fighters like “Lionheart.”
Speaking to Luke Thomas on Sirius XM Fight Nation Smith got the opportunity to respond. Smith is unsure what he did to provoke Rockhold to speak his name, but one thing is for sure, he certainly isn’t a fan (via MMA Mania):
“For Luke to come and start talking about me, first of all, you’ve been knocked out two of your last three times. Yoel Romero almost f*cking decapitated him. He’s coming off a loss and he can’t even make it to his next fight,” Smith said.
“So who is he to talk about anybody else in the UFC? He’s the most arrogant prick I’ve ever seen or heard speak in my life. And I’ve never done anything to that dude. I’ve never even literally shook his hand. I just don’t know where his sense of arrogance comes from.
“I fought four times in 13 months or something, got three bonuses. What are you doing? You’re not doing sh*t. You’re sitting on the sidelines, limping around.”
Fight Rockhold At Walmart
For the time being, Smith will focus on preparing for a likely title shot against Jon Jones. But if he were ever to run into Rockhold in public, say somewhere like Walmart perhaps, there could be trouble:
“I don’t understand how you can just disparage someone so bad that, number one, has done nothing to you, and number two, is highly-regarded as one of the hardest-working and most devoted guys in the sport,” Smith said.
“I’ve never attacked him, I just don’t get it. I will fight that guy anywhere. I will fight that guy in aisle five of Walmart.”
