Luke Rockhold wants to beat Machida in Jersey and conquer Weidman in NYC
Since stumbling out of the gates in his UFC debut, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has torn through all of the competitors the promotion has put in front of him, and now there's just one final challenger standing in his way of a potential title shot.
Rockhold takes on former UFC champion Lyoto Machida next weekend at FOX UFC Fight Night in New Jersey with the winner seemingly in line to face the victor in the upcoming co-main event at UFC 187 between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort.
While the UFC hasn't made any kind of official declaration about the winner receiving a title shot, Rockhold doesn't see any way he doesn't get the chance if he beats Machida next Saturday night.
"100-percent, I don't know who else I'd have to beat," Rockhold told FOX Sports. "I've dominated the last three guys I've fought, top guys, and I plan on doing the same to Machida. I've already beaten (Ronaldo) 'Jacare'(Souza), and I've proved myself. I plan on going out there and doing it again."
The only other fighter who could make an argument for a title shot other than Rockhold would be Souza, who has gone undefeated since coming to the UFC with four straight victories including three finishes. Souza will make his case for a title fight when he faces Yoel Romero in the co-main event of the same card next weekend.
Rockhold understands what Souza has done thus far in the UFC is impressive, but he's already beaten him when they faced each other in 2011. Add to that the fact that Rockhold and Machida are getting top billing on the same card, and Rockhold believes the message from the UFC is already clear on who gets the next chance at the middleweight title.
"I think it speaks volumes that me and Machida are the main event over our closest competitors, which are Jacare and Yoel Romero," Rockhold said. "I truly believe Machida and I are the best fighters in the division. We are both capable of fighting for the title. Jacare and Yoel are very good fighters, but I don't believe they are as polished and me and Machida.
"I truly do believe me and Machida are the No. 1 and No. 2 competitors in the world."
Rockhold might be onto something with his main event argument, but if he earns a shot at the gold it's likely more to do with beating a fighter of Machida's caliber.
The former light heavyweight champion has been virtually unstoppable at 185 pounds outside of his loss to current middleweight king Chris Weidman, and even in that fight Machida had plenty of openings where he could have easily walked out with the title belt that night. In his other three matchups at middleweight, Machida has walked through the competition including two finishes — the most recent of which over C.B. Dollaway lasted all of 62 seconds.
Rockhold knows that Machida has been an impossibly hard puzzle to solve, especially at middleweight, but he also knows that he's studied the Brazilian's machinations and has the key to putting him away on April 18.
"I've obviously studied all of his fights and I've been watching him for years. I've been studying the ways to beat him and I've watched his fights with Jon Jones, 'Shogun' (Rua) and (Chris) Weidman to see what they were able to do to him and even though it was different but still showed a lot of things was the fight with Dan Henderson," Rockhold explained.
"I have five rounds to beat Machida and that's what I love about this. I'm a hunter. Every time you see me in there I'm negotiating my opponent to where I want to put them. Forcing them into making them fight, and that's a perfect way to beat Machida. I'm just going to go in there and fight my fight and I can go out there and dominate him."
So many fighters have approached Machida with kid gloves, afraid to engage with him out of fear of his dangerous and potent counter striking ability. Machida's karate origins give him awkward stances and unorthodox approaches to striking.
Rockhold is no fool when it comes to strategy, so he knows better than to just dive in and allow Machida to play his game. Instead, Rockhold wants Machida to know there are plenty of things in his arsenal that should be causes for concern when they step into the Octagon together.
"He needs to worry about everything with me," Rockhold said. "My striking, my wrestling, my ground game, I'm going to make him think about everything. When he has an idea of what's coming stuck in the back of his head, I'm going to hit him with something completely different."
Whether the fight goes five minutes or five rounds, Rockhold doesn't see how he's not the one with his hand raised at the end of the night. And he certainly believes beating Machida is the last detour before getting on a one-way road that ends at Chris Weidman and the UFC middleweight title.
"Next stop is New York. We're going to march over there," Rockhold said. "First stop Jersey, next stop New York. That's what I plan on doing next. Machida in Jersey, Weidman in New York at Madison Square Garden. Go ahead and mark it on the calendar."
