+NEWS
UFC NEWSPFL NEWSONE NEWSBELLATOR NEWSWOMEN'S MMA NEWS
+FEATURES
PREVIEWSOPINIONINTERVIEWS
+FIGHT FINDER
UFC EVENTSBELLATOR EVENTSPFL EVENTSONE CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTSFULL CALENDARFIGHT FINDER GUIDE
+PODCASTS
SHILLAN & DUFFY PODCASTTHE SHEEHAN SHOWFIGHT BUSINESS PODCASTAFTER THE BELL
VIDEOS
+RANKINGS
DIVISIONAL RANKINGSPOUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGSWOMEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS
+FORUM
UFC DISCUSSIONWORLDWIDE MMA DISCUSSIONOFF TOPIC DISCUSSIONPHOTOSHOPS
+BOXING
BOXING NEWSBOXING DISCUSSIONKICKBOXING AND MUAY THAIBARE KNUCKLE BOXINGGRAPPLING
+MORE
PICTURESHOW TO WATCHCONTACT
FIGHT ODDS

UFC 172 Gets Luke Rockhold-Tim Boetsch Middleweight Showdown

Mike WhitmanFeb 04, 2014
Former Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold returns in April. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com


A middleweight clash pitting Luke Rockhold against Tim Boetsch has been added to UFC 172, promotion officials announced Tuesday.

UFC 172 takes place April 26 at Baltimore Arena and marks the organization’s first trip to Maryland’s largest city. The UFC’s Baltimore debut will also see Jon Jones collide with Glover Teixeira in a light heavyweight title tilt.

Rockhold made his Octagon debut last May as the reigning Strikeforce middleweight champion, but Vitor Belfort spoiled the Californian’s night with a spinning heel kick knockout at UFC on FX 8. The American Kickboxing Academy standout rebounded from that setback impressively, however, as Rockhold knocked out Costas Philippou with a first-round body kick last month at UFC Fight Night 35.

Boetsch trimmed down from light heavyweight in 2011 and began his middleweight run with four straight victories before running into Philippou, who knocked out “The Barbarian” to close out 2012. Boetsch was then outpointed by Mark Munoz at UFC 162 but rebounded from the loss with a controversial split decision win over C.B. Dollaway this past October at UFC 166.