Reigning UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is undoubtedly one of the most well-rounded fighters on the roster, possessing a vast arsenal of striking attacks, as well as a lethal submission game.
Going into his UFC 194 (December 12, 2015) bout with then champion Chris Weidman, however, it was thought that the Long Island native held the clear advantage in the wrestling department.
Despite that edge, Rockhold prevailed, scoring a fourth round finish and taking the belt home with him to sunny California.
The American Kickboxing Academy product recently said that Weidman turning away from his wrestling was a ‘bitch move’, and it was at that moment that he knew he had the fight in the bag:
“It’s a bitch move,” Rockhold said at a noticabely tense media day Wednesday promoting their UFC 199 rematch. “I mean, the moment he jumped on my back, I knew I had him. The one area where he was supposed to be dominant was his wrestling. For him not to take me down, not to horse me around there, and play his wrestling. For him to jump on my back just felt weak.”
Continuing on, Rockhold said that he noticed a drop in the confidence of Weidman, which in turn only boosted his own self-belief:
“As a fighter, when some guy does that, the confidence isn’t there,” Rockhold said. “That’s how i felt, that’s how I engaged in the situation. I immediately relaxed and grew confidence from that moment.”
At the end of the day, however, Rockhold wasn’t worried by any aspect of Weidman’s game, including the decorated wrestling background of the ex-champion:
“I really knew I would control every aspect of the fight, I didn’t see him be able to do that [outwrestle him],” Rockhold said. “It’s a matter of how good I would be on top. I thought he’d be able to be tougher off the start. I know I’d find the holes and find the openings and expose them.”
Check out the full video below courtesy of Fancy MMA:
How do you see the rematch at UFC 199 (June 4, 2016) playing out?
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