Luke Rockhold will make his return to the Octagon at UFC 268 on November 6 as he battles Sean Strickland.
It’s an intriguing matchup and is a top-ranked opponent that Rockhold has been after. However, he says Strickland has a stupid style, but given how stupid it is, it has been effective so far.
Yet, for the former middleweight champion, he says he will put Strickland in positions he’s not comfortable with, which includes the ground.
“As stupid as he looks and as stupid as he sounds, he’s effective. Probably because he’s so stupid. He just comes forward, he’s got confidence in himself, and he doesn’t question it, and that’s dangerous, for sure,” Rockhold said to MMAJunkie. “I think he’s somewhat one-dimensional, and being able to expose that is key. He’s just tough – tough and confident. That’s a big problem for a lot of people, so you’ve got to take that confidence from him.
“You’ve got to put him in positions he’s not comfortable with and finish it. I think he’s average everywhere. He’s hasn’t got a great ground game. He doesn’t have great wrestling,” Rockhold continued. “Decent boxing. He doesn’t kick much, but he’s tough. He’s tough, and he’s not going to take no for an answer kind of thing. He doesn’t have quit in him. You’ve got to make him quit.”
Luke Rockhold has not fought since he suffered a KO loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239 in his light heavyweight debut. Prior to that, he was knocked out by Yoel Romero for the interim middleweight title.
Although Rockhold has not fought since 2019, he says he is healthy again and eager to return. He also knows if he can beat Strickland in November, he’ll be right there to get a top-ranked opponent next time out and try and get his middleweight title back.
