Luke Rockhold
About
Former UFC middleweight champion and Strikeforce titlist whose brash confidence matched elite all-around skills.
See moreSee less
Luke Rockhold is a former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion, a tall, rangy fighter with a deep combat-sambo and jiu-jitsu base who could finish with kicks, ground-and-pound or submissions. His 2015 stoppage of Chris Weidman to win the UFC title was the peak of a genuinely elite run at 185 pounds.
A shocking knockout loss to Michael Bisping in 2016 cracked the foundation, and a turbulent late career followed - a bloody brawl with Paulo Costa essentially closed his UFC chapter before he moved into bare-knuckle and exhibition fights. Always brash and never lacking confidence, Rockhold was as polarizing as he was talented, a fighter fans either rooted for or against with little in between.
Why fans love Rockhold
Elite, well-rounded skills and a willingness to fight anyone, plus a title-winning resume at the sport's highest level.
Why some fans hate Rockhold
His outspoken, arrogant persona and trash talk rubbed many fans the wrong way, especially as his chin betrayed him late.
