Luke Rockhold predicts what’s in Paulo Costa’s self-described “secret juice.”
Luke Rockhold Predicts What’s In Paulo Costa’s ‘Secret Juice’
Rockhold is set to do battle with the fellow 185-pound title challenger at UFC 278 later this week. It will be a return from a three-year layoff for the ex-champion.
Recently, Costa has been suggesting he’s drinking “secret juice” in preparation for his fight with Rockhold. During a recent interview with The Schmo, Rockhold reacted to this suggestion.
Rockhold says everyone these days is trying to gain the upper hand with “secret juice,” while he himself relies on hard work.
“Secret juice, that’s always the recipe for a lot of these guys,” Rockhold said. “They’re always trying to find that secret juice.
“You know, I just rely on hard work and a lot of water, focused effort, and we’re going to show him what kind of juice it takes.”
Rockhold faces an opponent in Costa who has been known to have issues making weight at 185 pounds. It’s for this reason he was asked about potentially fighting Costa at a catchweight fight should the Brazilian miss weight.
The Californian seems willing to meet Costa at about 190 pounds should he fail to hit his mark this weekend, but he needs to know ahead of time.
Rockhold refused to work at cutting weight down to 185 pounds only to be at a disadvantage against his opponent come fight night.
“I told him, there needs to be a certain degree,” Rockhold said. “He’s got to make 190 maybe. But I need to know ahead.
“A lot of these guys are missing weight for a reason, cause they’re scared and they’re trying to take advantage. Like Yoel Romero. Missing weight for reasons.
“I ain’t going to kill myself to make weight and fight at a disadvantage. I think everything should be on track, the UFC has been monitoring his weight week to week and everything is a go from what I hear. So, we’re going to go.”
Both Rockhold and Costa are in need of wins at the moment. They find themselves sharing a two-fight losing skid. Rockhold hasn’t won since September of 2017 when he finished David Branch in Pittsburgh.
As for Costa, ever since suffering the first loss of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career against Israel Adesanya in 2020, he lost his second-straight against Marvin Vettori last October.
A win for either man could put them right back in the hunt for a shot at the middleweight strap.
