Rockhold excited to make UFC debut against Belfort in Brazil
Luke Rockhold spent much of his tenure as Strikeforce middleweight champion insisting that he would fare just fine against the top 185-pounders in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He finally will get a chance to start proving it tonight.
The 28-year-old Northern Californian makes his UFC debut against perennial contender Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC on FX 8 in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil.
Rockhold asked for a matchup against the 36-year-old Belfort, a former champion, when it became clear Strikeforce was going to be folded into the UFC.
“I was so fired up to get this matchup,” Rockhold said. “The name Vitor Belfort says it all. It’s a great name for me, a great opponent to show I’m a top contender in this division. That’s what I’m looking for. I wanted a big stage and a big name to introduce me to the UFC, and this is it.”
The bout will take place in Belfort’s native Brazil, but even the expected hostile environment can’t dampen Rockhold’s enthusiasm for the night.
“It’s basically a paid vacation for me. I’m excited for it. I get a free trip out to Brazil, and I’ll get paid to kick some ass. It’s a great opportunity for me,” Rockhold said. “I just have to put on those blinders when it’s fight time. I’ll walk out and hear some people talking crap in Portuguese, which pretty much won’t matter to me because I don’t speak Portuguese. It’ll be fine.”
Rockhold fought just once in 2010 before several injuries, most notably to his shoulder, caused him to miss nearly 18 months. When he returned in late 2011, Rockhold defeated Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza to capture the Strikeforce middleweight belt.
He defended the belt twice in 2012, with wins over Keith Jardine and Tim Kennedy, but hasn’t competed since July 2012 due to lingering injuries and the uncertain status of Strikeforce.
“I try to have perspective when I get those injuries and delays and just try to better myself every time,” Rockhold said. “(I) just try to look at my game and improve upon what I’m missing while I’m out. I try to do as much as I can, and it’s worked for me so far. I’m happy with the way my career is going, and I couldn’t be in a better spot right now.”
Rockhold believes that not only is Belfort the type of name that will help establish him in the UFC, but the high-level striker with a dangerous ground game is a great physical matchup as well.
“Stylistically, I think it’s awesome for me,” Rockhold said. “This is a great opportunity for me and a chance to look the best I’ve ever looked. Vitor’s a great striker and one you have to respect. I haven’t really respected any striker in the past, and I’ve gotten sloppy at times just trying to take guys’ heads off. This is a fight where I’ll have to be more precise and be on my game from the get-go.”
A win over Belfort would go a long way in establishing Rockhold as a UFC middleweight contender. “I feel like I can beat anyone in the world,” he said, “and I’m ready to prove it.”
■ NOTES — The main card, which also features Souza’s UFC debut against Chris Camozzi, airs live on FX (Cable 24) at 6 p.m.
Las Vegan Evan Dunham seeks his fourth win in five fights when he takes on Rafael dos Anjos in a lightweight bout.
A six-fight preliminary card airs live on Fuel TV (Cable 319) at 3 p.m. Three fights stream live on Facebook at 1:30.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.