Luke Rockhold may not have lived up to his promise of stopping Michael Bisping inside the first round, but hey, he at least got pretty dang close.
The former Strikeforce champ handed Bisping the first submission loss of his 22-fight UFC career, tapping out the Brit with a slick one-arm guillotine just 17 seconds into the second round of Friday night’s middleweight grudge match. Rockhold’s quick work not only cemented his position as a worthy title contender, but also ensured that UFC Fight Night 55, with it’s unbelievable 100-percent finishing rate, set the new modern record for most finishes on a UFC card.
And as always, the pros loved it every step of the way.
This guy is a monster, Next champ @LukeRockhold congrats my buddy pic.twitter.com/UsHOnnk1U1
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) November 8, 2014
Rockhold killed him with kindness….and a few strikes too #ClassyDude
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) November 8, 2014
Wowzers!! I love fighters that hurt you standing and then jump on a submission opportunity. Awesome finish @LukeRockhold @ufc #UFCSydney
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) November 8, 2014
@LukeRockhold is the real deal. What a performance. @bisping is a warrior. Great job boys Give Rockhold #1 con fight or title shot #weareaka
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) November 8, 2014
@LukeRockhold looked great tonight! Classy after the finish also!
— Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) November 8, 2014
Holy shit @LukeRockhold #UFCSydney
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) November 8, 2014
This is like an awkward sparring match #UFCSydney #UFCFightNight #mainevent
— Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) November 8, 2014
Great kick, great choke @LukeRockhold – @bisping always watching always enertaining http://t.co/lPzYJmL9jR
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) November 8, 2014
One hand on ya! @LukeRockhold @ufc #ufc #UFCAustralia
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 8, 2014
Well damn !! Way to go Rockhold @ufc @UFCFightPass
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) November 8, 2014
@LukeRockhold is a beast. #UFCAustralia
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) November 8, 2014
So much respect from @LukeRockhold there at the end regardless of the pre fight smack talk between the two fighters #UFCSydney
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 8, 2014
@bisping is still the man. Humble in defeat.
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 8, 2014
Good work and congrats to @LukeRockhold
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 8, 2014
Who has pulled off one handed mounted guillotines in @ufc ? Me, @LukeRockhold , and @UrijahFaber ? Who else?
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) November 8, 2014
Luke Rockhold is a beast ! That 185lb division is stacked
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) November 8, 2014
Wow!
— Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) November 8, 2014
One arm guillotine… @LukeRockhold is a bad dude. @ufc #mma #UFCSydney
— Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) November 8, 2014
Selfishly the reason I am so happy is @LukeRockhold took no damage so this killer will be there for my whole camp. Good looking out luke
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) November 8, 2014
AL IAQUINTA VS. ROSS PEARSON
Holy fucking shit @ALIAQUINTA @ufc
— Alptekin Ozkilic (@alpozkilicmma) November 8, 2014
Uhullllll great job brother!!! @ALIAQUINTA Porrada!!!!! #TufLive #tufxv #sunda4ever
— Cristiano Marcello (@CristianoBJJ) November 8, 2014
Raging Al!!!! #UFCSydney @ALIAQUINTA
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) November 8, 2014
Huge win for @ALIAQUINTA #RagingAl Congrats brother! #UFCAustralia
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) November 8, 2014
BOOOOYAHHHH!!! That’s what I’m talking about baby. Great job and congrats to @ALIAQUINTA @ChrisWeidmanUFC
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 8, 2014
AMAZING PERFORMANCE BY “RAGING” @ALIAQUINTA #UFCAustralia
— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) November 8, 2014
Hope to see @RossTheRealDeal come back stronger. I thought you looked great until you got caught.
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 8, 2014
You’re a creature @ALIAQUINTA… ??
— Lance Palmer (@LancePalmer) November 8, 2014
@ALIAQUINTA great fight bud way to stay focused
— Phil Davis (@PhilMrWonderful) November 8, 2014
Huge win for @ALIAQUINTA congrats big man #UFCSydney
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 8, 2014
Congrats to @ALIAQUINTA for KO @RossTheRealDeal is TUF congrats to the @ufc team @MattSerraUFC @raylongomma http://t.co/vnqfckoFr1
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) November 8, 2014
Hellll ya @raylongomma @bxrgrl18 @erichyertko @GPVillante that’s wha talking about! Wow way to go guys love my NY family. @smiocic u see it
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) November 8, 2014
ROBERT WHITTAKER VS. CLINT HESTER
This Hester vs Whittaker fight is a scrap!!!
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) November 8, 2014
Holy shit is Clint Hester tough !!!!! #ufc
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) November 8, 2014
If someone doesn’t get finished in this matchup. I will be f’n astonished! Both guys eating a lot of heavy shots. Battle of the chins baby!
— Justin Edwards (@FastEddyMma) November 8, 2014
Hester & Whittaker are throwing dem hands! #UFCSydney
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) November 8, 2014
Damn this @UFCFightPass Card is sick! This fight with Hester and Whitaker is dope! #UFCSydney
— Anthony Birchak (@abirchakMMA) November 8, 2014
WOW!!! Awesome performance by @RJWhittaker1990 great take down defense and sharpe hands. Love it
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 8, 2014
What??? People in the UK might get to sleep by 4.30am??? What is this??? #sickcard #UFCSydney
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 8, 2014
This card is ridiculous!!! so many finishes I need a damn finish this is definitely the card to watch!! #motivating #UFCSydney
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) November 8, 2014
Dope fight and finish by the Reaper! #UFCSydney
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) November 8, 2014
Now THAT fight was fun to say the least. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the @ufc fights tonight are wild like that!
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) November 8, 2014
What an AMAZING fight!!!!! Hester vs Whitaker was awesome @UFCFightPass
— Dana White (@danawhite) November 8, 2014
Wow! Exciting fight! Nonstop action between @RJWhittaker1990 & @clinthester #UFCSydney @ufc
— Emily Peters Kagan (@EmilyPKagan) November 8, 2014
Great work by @RJWhittaker1990! Looking great at 185!
— Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) November 8, 2014
Damn good fight on @UFCFightPass #whittaker is really good! #UFCFightNight
— Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) November 8, 2014
Welcome to the middleweight division Robert Whittaker. Awesome fight
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) November 8, 2014
SOA PALELEI VS. WALT HARRIS
All these failed takedown attempts are going to get SP tired and disheartened if he doesn’t watch out. We’ll see if the airdyne has worked
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 8, 2014
Good first round and take down defense is looking awesome . Here come the second
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 8, 2014
Congratulations @soathehulk http://t.co/pQHxYZQPKW pic.twitter.com/76GsNOj4Ut
— Court McGee (@Court_McGee) November 8, 2014