After Machida, Luke Rockhold Wants Weidman In New York

No. 4-ranked middleweight Luke Rockhold has a huge fight ahead of him when he meets No. 2-ranked middleweight and former champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida in the main event of April 18’s UFC on FOX 15 from Newark, New Jersey. The stakes are high for this bout as the winner could be on a crash course with the winner of UFC 187’s Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort co-main event.

However, the winner has not been guaranteed a title shot just yet, and there is some speculation that the winner of UFC on FOX 15’s co-main event, which features No. 1-ranked Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza versus No. 6-ranked Yoel Romero, could be awarded the next shot as well.

Speaking with FOX Sports, Rockhold believes the shot should be his given he gets past Machida:

“100-percent, I don’t know who else I’d have to beat. 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 and I plan on going out there and doing it again.”

Rockhold has indeed already beaten Souza when they met for the Strukeforce 185-pound belt in 2011, but he also believes the fact that he and Machida are the main event is not a coincidence. The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product truly believes that he and “The Dragon” are the top contenders in the talented division, and that the winner should rightfully challenge for gold:

“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.”

Since dropping down to middleweight, Machida has been a force to be reckoned with with his only loss being to Weidman. He was most recently seen dismantling CB Dollaway with a vicious body kick in the main event of UFC Fight Night 58 last December. Rockhold is well aware of how dangerous the famed karate expert is, but he has studied his tendencies and plans to dominate him next weekend:

“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.”

After he presumably takes out Machida, Rockhold has some big plans for the future, which seem to involve the title and a certain state in which MMA may finally be trotting into soon:

“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.”

Can Rockhold overcome “The Drago,” and if he does, does he deserve a shot at Weidman in the champion’s home state?