Luke Rockhold's Blogs
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Poll: Strikeforce Champions vs. UFC?
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Video Highlights: Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Kennedy’
The official recap from Showtime Sports of the Strikeforce July 14 event. Watch as Nate Marquardt takes on Tyron Woodley and Luke Rockhold defends the Strikeforce middleweight championship belt against Tim Kennedy.
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Roundtable: Strikeforce Rockhold Vs Kennedy
By: TJ De Santis
Jack Encarnacao returned to The Sherdog Radio Network on Friday for another roundtable discussion. This time the panel broke down tomorrow night's Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy” card, which takes place at The Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
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Joining Jack on the roundtable were Sherdog.com's Jordan Breen, Lutfi Sariahmed, and ESPN.com's Chad Dundas. The men broke down all of tomorrow night's action including the main event middleweight title bout that features champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt for the second time against challenger Tim Kennedy. The panel also discussed the welterweight tilt pitting former UFC middleweight title challenger Nate Marquardt against Tyron Woodley.
Listen to the best pre-fight analysis in the business by clicking here.
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Podcast: Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Roundtable
By: TJ De Santis
Live radio returned to The Sherdog Radio Network Friday for another roundtable discussion. This time the panel broke down tomorrow night's Strikeforce card that features a middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and challenger Keith Jardine.
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Jack Encarnacao welcomed Sherdog.com's Jeff Sherwood, Jon Luther, and SBNation's Luke Thomas to the table. Not only did the men discuss the evening's bouts, but the direction Strikeforce is headed in 2012. The table also breaks down would could be next for prospects Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffiedine, and Jordan Mein.
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Video: Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Preview
Showtime Sports’ Mauro Ranallo speaks to Luke Rockhold, Keith Jardine, Tyron Woodley and Jordan Mein ahead of Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine,” Saturday, Jan. 7 at 10PM ET/PT on Showtime.
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Rockhold Proves Self-Belief a Most Dangerous Weapon
By: Jason Probst
Luke Rockhold pulled off the upset against “Jacare.”| Photo: Sherdog.com
On paper, he did not have a chance, but Luke Rockhold showed that the greatest weapon a fighter can have going for him is an unyielding belief in himself. That carried him through a difficult opening stanza en route to a stellar five-round decision win over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at Strikeforce “Barnett vs. Kharitonov” on Saturday in Cincinnati, earning him the promotion’s middleweight title.
Inactive for more than 18 months, Rockhold had not even fought past the first round in his eight-fight career and, yet, found himself challenging Souza for the middleweight crown. Fresh off a career-defining third-round whitewash of Robbie Lawler in his last defense, Souza’s game had never looked better. He used his suffocating grappling and evolving overall ability to eventually submit Lawler, who had never been positionally dominated nor spent so much time on his back in a fight.
The bout resembled a boy picking off the wings of an insect; obviously, Jacare’s game was coming along nicely. When Rockhold had to fight off Jacare’s opening-round ground assault, he was sucked into a dangerous threshing machine. The Brazilian’s grappling has an air of inevitability about it, as he wears down his opponent, constantly improves position and implements his will.
After surviving the first round, Rockhold had passed one of those unspoken tests through which a fighter’s confidence surges. He had been hit with Souza’s best stuff and survived, and, now, it was time to go to work. Outworking Souza and countering his grappling with increasing effectiveness over the next four rounds, he seized the momentum and never relented. Souza, meanwhile, did not possess the sharp attack and focus with which he had opened the bout. The shift in momentum goes both ways, and, as a result, Rockhold’s belief in himself ultimately proved the difference.
Follow the jump for reader comments. Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst. Read more -
Rockhold Credits Deep Team for Win
The new Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold talks about his win by decision over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
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