Luke Rockhold is on the top of the UFC world right now and things are indeed looking up as far as the future is concerned.
And as he looks back, he just cannot seem to shrug off a haunting past, which includes his first loss in the UFC. It all happened way back in 2013 when he squared off with Chris Weidman at The Arena Jaragua in Brazil for "UFC on FX."
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That loss against Weidman saw the former champion throw an ill-advised spinning wheel kick, the same maneuver that Belfort used to defeat him during their 2013 meeting.
But according to Rockhold, it was that kick to the skull that rocked him to maturity and something he credits as the reason for his standing right now.
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"That fight was everything to me. I'm so thankful I got kicked in the head," Rockhold said via the "Fighter and The Kid" podcast. "Thank you (Belfort), thank you but I'm gonna [expletive] kill you."
True enough, Rockhold has now strung up six consecutive wins since that loss. His last win over Weidman allowed him to cop the UFC middleweight title and given the choice, he wants another shot at Belfort.
Would this mean that a rematch with Weidman is off the cards? The answer to that is no different from the current issue that clouds the Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo fight. Some say that Weidman should not be granted a rematch despite the fact that it is common practice in this modern day.
Aside from Weidman, there is also Yoel Romero which many feel would be a good one to see. With those two names in the way, one has to wonder how a showdown with “The Phenom” fits in.
Rockhold is hoping that he can get that rematch at UFC 200, a fight that he says will send Belfort into retirement via Fox Sports.
Of the possible names that were mentioned, Belfort does seem to stand out among the batch. But until the UFC makes it official, Rockhold’s next opponent remains up in the air.
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