Luke Rockhold som tar sig an den forne mästaren Lyoto Machida under UFC on FOX 15 i april. Rockhold anser att om han lyckas avsluta Machida så kan han inte bli förnekad nästa chans på titeln i UFC:s mellanviktsdivision.
Chris Weidman försvara sin titel mot Vitor Belfort en månad senare under UFC 187. En match som Luke Rockhold hoppas få stå på tur och möta vinnaren efter han tagit sig förbi den forne mästaren Lyoto Machida. Det är om han nu kan besegra den karate inspirerade och svårfångade veteranen.
“I believe if I go out there and perform and do my job, I don’t believe there’s anything really left on the table,” sa Rockhold i en exklusiv intervju med The Fight Corner. “I’m going to take it as it comes, but Lyoto’s obviously proved himself as a champion and did well for himself in his title fight versus Weidman. I go out there and perform, potentially finish him, I don’t see how they can deny me.”
Under samma gala för vi även se Yoel Romero ta sig an Ronaldo ”Jacare” Souza. Båda dessa herrar är även dom topprankade i divisionen men enligt Rockhold så är det tydligt om vinnaren i vilken match som borde stå på tur för nästa chans på guld.
“Our closest competitors are our co-main event, mind you, co-main event. I think everyone understands who’s the bigger draw and who’s more in line right now. I’ve already beat Jacare, and whatever. I’m going to go out there and perform and make sure I put a statement on this fight and put myself in the title shot. Lyoto’s a big name opponent and he also holds all the credibility and deserves to be there. I’m going to go out there and perform, that’s all I can do.”
Lyoto Machida som är en väldigt svår fighter att fånga upp och som är bra på att kontra. Vi fick däremot se i hans match mot Chris Weidman att med rätt press kan även den svårfångade Machida hamna i en sits där han blir obekväm. Just den starka pressen är något som Rockhold kommer använda sig utav.
“I’m just going to control the distance and put him in a bad place and make him try to come after me,” sa Rockhold. “That’s not going to be a usual stylistic matchup where people are always trying to chase him. I’m going to hunt him. I’m not going to chase him. I’m very good at controlling my distance and so, I’m going to put him in a bad place and make him have to fight.
“Kind of what Weidman did, but I think a little more cautious. Weidman got a little crazy at times, but he got away with it. He’s so tough. I’ve got a lot of different weapons, I believe, than Weidman has with my kicks and everything that I can throw out there. So I’m going to do what I do.”
“I think I can finish Machida and I think I can perform and I look to be solid. Given Machida’s very quick, he’s elusive, he poses a lot of threats, I mean, I’m not going to say it’ll be a walk in the park. I know I can go out there and make it relatively easy if I go out there and fight the way I know I can. Like I said, it is Machida. I’ve just got to pursue him with caution and do what I plan on doing.
Machida vs. Rockhold leder huvudkortet på UFC on FOX 15 som äger rum i Prudential Center i Newark, New Jersey den 18:e april.
