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Anthony Smith credits the heart of Luke Rockhold following his gutsy display at UFC 278: ‘Where was this f—king guy 10 years ago?’

Anthony Smith, alongside many within the community, has heaped praise onto Luke Rockhold following his fierce performance against Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 278. Despite dropping a unanimous decision to Costa, it was clear to see that Rockhold had gained the respect of all of those watching for his display of toughness […]

Anthony Smith, alongside many within the community, has heaped praise onto Luke Rockhold following his fierce performance against Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 278.

Despite dropping a unanimous decision to Costa, it was clear to see that Rockhold had gained the respect of all of those watching for his display of toughness in his first return to the octagon since 2019. This matchup called a curtain on what has been a fantastic career for the American who had to overcome adversity on more than one occasion to make his way through the full 15 minutes.

His performance was tipped by an emotional post-fight interview something not necessarily associated with himself which won over the respect of all spectators even further.

Speaking on the ‘Believe You Me’ Podcast, Smith had nothing but respect and admiration for the toughness put on display by the former champion who deserves to leave competing behind with his held head high following his final outing.

“It was raw. It was so raw. Where was this f—king guy 10 years ago? He’d be a f—king superstar. I can get behind that guy. That guy who’s like, ‘I’m f—king old,’ I’m with you. I can get behind that guy.”

At times it appeared Luke Rockhold was ready to call it a day inside the octagon after showing extreme signs of fatigue after returning from an extended layoff whilst also having to compete at a high altitude. However, in every moment this occurred Rockhold dug deep to surprise his opponent with his sheer willingness to continue coming forward and unwillingness to quit on himself.

Anthony Smith praises the desire Luke Rockhold displayed at UFC 278

Despite Smith not having the best personal relationship with Luke Rockhold that did not stop him from giving him the respect he so rightly deserved following on from UFC 278.

“I see Luke Rockhold quitting, I’m watching him look for the door,” Smith said. “He’s looking for a way out and then decided not to take it, and that happened more than twice. It happened more than three times where he decided I don’t f—king want to be here anymore and on his way to quitting, turned around before he got there and battled his way back into it. Personally, Luke and I don’t like each other.”

“But I can respect being exhausted, being in a really hard fight with a really heavy hitter, with a guy who’s walking you down, and you’re so f—king tired you can’t even breathe, and you got your nose splashed all the way across your face, you can barely stand up but still mustering the ability to battle back and stay in there and kind of give the fans a treat they didn’t deserve, because you should have been finished a long time ago.” (Transcribed by MMAMania)

Despite not gaining the competitive victory in his final outing that Rockhold may have wanted he undoubtedly secured himself a moral one gaining even more respect from the thousands watching him compete one final time.

What did you make of Luke Rockhold’s performance at UFC 278?

Leon Edwards: I Finished Usman On My Worst Day

Newly crowned welterweight king Leon Edwards stunned the MMA world with a last-ditch knockout over pound-for-pound contender Kamaru Usman in what the new champion states was one of his worst performances. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Edwards sha…

Continue Reading Leon Edwards: I Finished Usman On My Worst Day at MMA News.

Edwards Describes “Intense” Viral Coach Clip From UFC 278

UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards has described the presence of Dave Lovell in his corner following this past weekend’s UFC 278 main event. On August 20, Edwards changed the landscape of the 170-pound division, the pound-for-pound rankings, …

Continue Reading Edwards Describes “Intense” Viral Coach Clip From UFC 278 at MMA News.

Watch: Live Worldwide Reactions To Edwards’ UFC 278 KO Of Usman

UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards’ knockout of Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 drew global attention after one of the most iconic Octagon moments. Edwards shocked the world with a fifth-round head kick KO of Usman in the UFC 278 headliner. The fight…

Continue Reading Watch: Live Worldwide Reactions To Edwards’ UFC 278 KO Of Usman at MMA News.

Coach backs Leon Edwards to fight ‘little rat Judas’ Jorge Masvidal in the future: ‘Your time will come’

Dave Lovell, the head coach of recently minted UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, has backed his student to share the Octagon with arch-rival, Jorge Masvidal in the future – labelling the veteran Miami native a “little rat Judas”. Edwards, who extended his undefeated winning run to 11 straight victories in the main event of UFC […]

Edwards, who extended his undefeated winning run to 11 straight victories in the main event of UFC 278 last weekend – clinched the undisputed welterweight championship with a stunning, rallying fifth round high kick knockout win over Kamaru Usman in the duo’s Salt Lake City rematch.

The Birmingham native was losing three of the four rounds heading into the final fifth frame, however, heralded corner work from Team Renagade BJJ & MMA teacher, Rovell inspired Leon Edwards to launch with a stunning fifth round left high kick knockout.

Expected to share the Octagon with Usman in a championship trilogy rubber match next year in the U.K. – Leon Edwards has also welcomed fights with the likes of Nate Diaz, and the aforenoted, Masvidal – whom engaged in a post-UFC London brawl with Edwards back in March 2019.

Leon Edwards was slated to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 278 last December

Last year, Edwards was slated to finally share the Octagon with Masvidal on the main card of UFC 269 last December, however, an undisclosed injury forced the latter from proceedings.

Off the back of Edwards’ title-winning performance, Masvidal has clamored for a title matchup with the Jamaican-born fighter, resulting in a powerful tirade from Lovell, who insisted the Floridian would land a fight with his student – labelling him a “little rat Judas”, however.

“Leon (Edwards) has been climbing the hill for a long time, as you know,” Dave Lovell said during a recent interview with MMA Junkie reporter, Mike Bohn. “And he’s tried to reach the top and he’s been knocked back, knocked back, knocked back. But now, he’s climbed to the top. He can be the one at the top of the mountain knocking back people. Well, you can stand at the back of the line, Mr. (Jorge) Masvidal, for starters.”

“Mr. Masvidal, you little rat Judas, your time will come also,” Dave Lovell explained. “But we’ll pick it on our terms, the same way you told Leon, ‘Wait at the back of the line.’ Well, you wait now, mate, because Leon’s on the top of the hill.”

Michael Bisping salutes Luke Rockhold on retirement, UFC run: ‘People still don’t give him the credit he’s due’

Former UFC middleweight champion and past rival of fellow former division champion, Michael Bisping has wished recent UFC 278 co-headliner, Luke Rockhold well on his recent retirement from professional mixed martial arts, claiming those within the sport still elect against offering the Californian “credit he’s due”. Bisping, a two-time opponent of Rockhold, managed to land […]

Bisping, a two-time opponent of Rockhold, managed to land an even 1-1 record against the Santa Cruz veteran, dropping a November 2014 mounted guillotine loss to the former, before avenging the submission defeat with a shocking first round knockout to win the undisputed middleweight championship in June 2016.

For Luke Rockhold, the loss to Bisping began a disappointing string of four losses in his last five Octagon appearances, culminating with a rather one-sided, yet competitive unanimous decision loss to past title challenger, Paulo Costa last weekend in Salt Lake City.

Finally drawing the Brazilian in a rescheduled pairing, Rockhold gritted through numerous moments of woe at the Vivint Arena, even wobbling Costa on occasion as well as ending their three round bout in full mount – albeit dropping a unanimous decision loss.

Luke Rockhold calls time on his career boasting a 16-6 professional record

Following the defeat, former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold confirmed that he would hanging up his gloves from professional mixed martial arts with immediate effect.

Informing the promotion of his decision to call time on his professional career at the turn of this week, Rockhold received plaudits on a gold-laden career, however, the aforenoted Bisping – whom congratulated the former on his run, questioned if the former actually received the credit he is due.

“I wish you the best in retirement, Luke (Rockhold), I really, really do mean that,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “I know we had some back and forths over the years, but it was just competitive. Just rivals, sporting rivals. I’m sure if we met under different circumstances – in fact, I always said this – I’m sure we’d get along. We’ve got some mutual friends and Jason Parillo thinks the world of you as well. So congratulations in what you do.”

“So Luke, whatever you’re going to do in retirement, mate, enjoy,” Michael Bisping said. “You had a fantastic career. I think people still don’t give him the credit that he was due, but I do.”

Despite beginning his Octagon tenure with a stunning wheel kick knockout loss to common-foe, Vitor Belfort, Luke Rockhold would go on to land victories over Costas Phillipou, Tim Boetsch, Bisping, Lyoto Machida, David Branch, and in December 2015, stopped Chris Weidman to clinch the undisputed middleweight championship.