Rockhold gunning for UFC fighters
Date: 2012-01-08 00:00:00
Source: http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/rockhold-wants-ufc...
Submitted By: MMAFightsDump
Luke Rockhold looked visibly annoyed, but did his best to remain diplomatic. After smashing journeyman Keith Jardine to retain his Strikeforce middleweight title, Rockhold made an impassioned post fight interview plea to fight some contenders from Zuffa’s other promotion. Rockhold didn’t mention any specific opponents when asked who he’d like to face off with. “If that’s the plan, that’s the plan, I’ll make do with what we’ve got here,” Rockhold said when asked who he’d like to fight next. “I look for bigger and better things. If the UFC wants to bring in some top contenders, I’ll welcome them to our hexagon as Gilbert Melendez says.” Rockhold likely faces Tim Kennedy next and a rematch with “Jacare” Souza is likely on the horizon as well. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is having none of the cross promotional talk, despite that being the dominant topic of the night. And how could it not have been the topic? A big name didn’t keep Keith Jardine from eating a few big right hands on his way to dream street. It wasn’t exactly the barn burner that tested the young champion. No one was surprised. Not even Rockhold. “I could time him with the right hook,” Rockhold said of Jardine’s unorthodox style. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter felt comfortable standing with the kick boxer from Jackson’s MMA. He also had a backup plan if things didn’t go as planned. “If I didn’t feel the standup I was going to take him down. I got the early knockout. I’m back to my old ways.” Rockhold credits the success on the feet to his go-to training partner, the hard hitting 205-pound contender King Mo Lawal. “If I can avoid Mo’s hook, Jardine wasn’t going to come close.” At times the pair looked like a WWE tag team, playing off each other and cracking jokes at the post fight press conference. It’s the second time Rockhold and Lawal have been on the same card. Both times, the surging champion has earned impressive victories. “Cookies and cream, domino, whatever you want to call it,” King Mo said to laughter. Still, the elephant in the room is top competition for the champion. Rockhold tried his best not to diminish the importance of the Jardine fight, but with “The Dean of Mean” owning no wins in the division he fought for a title in—to say nothing of a meager two wins in his last eight fights—didn’t bode well for a champion looking for challenges. “There are some valid challengers out there in my division, that’s who I want to fight. Keith Jardine is tough, but I want to fight guys that have earned their spot.” When asked who the valid challengers were, one name stood above the rest. “Tim Kennedy is the most valid challenger. We’ll see if they can make that fight happen. I’m more than welcome.” Rockhold praised Tim Kennedy, but expressed no doubts that he’ll come out on top in the upcoming contest. “He’s a really tough guy, but I believe my attributes can overcome. He’s a great wrestler and jiu-jitsu guy, but I believe my stand up is better. I’ll put it out there right now. Stand and bang, sprawl and brawl. That’s how it goes down.”
