It’s always easy to puff up the chest and speak big when a man is down and out. Just ask Lorenz Larkin, who suddenly took to accusing Strikeforce middleweight ace Luke Rockhold of exaggerating an injury in order to avoid facing him next month at Strikeforce: Champions.
Anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of watching Rockhold compete knows quite well that the chances of Luke “ducking” Lorenz aren’t exactly sizable. In fact, I’d all but guarantee Luke’s got legit health issues. The man has already run roughshod over the likes of Keith Jardine, Ronaldo Souza and Tim Kennedy. He’s got no reason whatsoever to fear the still developing Larkin.
Whether or not the two will eventually meet inside the UFC’s octagon remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t be stunned to see Joe Silva pair these two up somewhere down the line. Just to give Luke a chance to silence a man hurling about unfounded accusations and implications.
But, it’s important to try and be realistic about this whole thing. Lorenz Larkin in all likelihood has no business sharing cage time with a man of Rockhold’s caliber. Luke is a legitimate contender in the middleweight division, and he’s already prepared to tangle with the upper echelon of the UFC’s middleweight ranks.
In fact, let’s take a look at those who are more than likely to fall to the soon to be former Strikeforce champion and newly minted UFC prospect.