Luke Rockhold, the former undisputed UFC middleweight champion who retired from active competition last year, remains steadfast in his belief that he can defeat fellow former division gold holder, Alex Pereira.
Rockhold, a former middleweight champion in both the UFC and Strikeforce, last stepped into the Octagon against Brazilian contender Paulo Costa at UFC 278 in August, resulting in a unanimous decision loss for Rockhold.
Meanwhile, Pereira, hailing from Brazil, is set to make his divisional debut next month in the co-main event of UFC 291, facing former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.
Pereira’s recent stint on the sidelines started in April after a stunning defeat to his arch-rival, Israel Adesanya, costing him his middleweight crown due to a spectacular second-round knockout.
Luke Rockhold remains confident in his ability to triumph over Alex Pereira, expressing his optimism for a potential bout between the two. Rockhold faced a tough outcome in his match against Mike Perry, as things didn’t go in his favor. Unfortunately, the former champion made the decision to quit the fight in the second round.
Luke Rockhold Sets Sights on Alex Pereira
“Pereira, it’s like any day with Pereira. Give me ten seconds on the ground, I’ll fucking kill that motherfucker,” Rockhold proclaimed.
Alex Pereira set the Karate Combat kick record on the Power Cube with a score of 90k. Luke Rockhold and @rossTURBOlevine both just broke it throwing HEAT. 😳😮💨 #KC40 pic.twitter.com/FmmxDgv4lY
— Karate Combat (@KarateCombat) June 24, 2023
While Rockhold’s recent competitive endeavors have been challenging, with a three-fight losing streak before leaving the UFC, he showcased his elite skills by breaking the kicking box record set by former UFC and Glory Kickboxing champion, Alex Pereira, during his appearance at Karate Combat. Rockhold emphasized that not only does he possess greater kicking power than Pereira, but he also considers himself a superior fighter to “Poatan,” issuing a formidable threat to the former two-division kickboxing champion.
It’s worth noting that Rockhold’s strategy would likely involve taking Pereira to the ground, but that poses its own challenge—avoiding Pereira’s devastating left hand.
As for Rockhold’s future plans, he remains in a state of uncertainty after expressing disinterest in bare-knuckle boxing. The next chapter of his career is eagerly anticipated, with fans eager to see where he lands next.
