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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=452218" target="_blank">
Rockhold: I am better than Weidman everywhere
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=452218" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=43&q=75&x=8&y=10&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=luke-rockhold-01-23-2015-10-50-4-462.jpg" /></a>
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<p>In a <a href="http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/452214/Weidman-Jacare-more-dangerous-than-Rockhold/" target="_blank">recent interview</a>, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman discussed the skills of #1 contender Luke Rockhold.</p>
"He's well rounded, but he's not great anywhere," said Weidman. "He's not the best striker I've ever fought, he's not the best jiu-jitsu guy I ever fought."
In a interview with Jeremy Botter for B/R, Rockhold expressed similar sentiments, but in reverse.
"He fought a deflated Belfort," said Rockhold. "Vitor had no heart. Look at the difference in him when he showed up last week to what we've seen in the past. Chris is a tough guy, but that fight didn't prove anything. Vitor had one burst, and then he was done. He quit."
"I'm better than him everywhere. I see it as a fight that will be on the feet. He's used to guys that don't want to go to the ground with him, but I don't mind the ground. I am going to control the fight and I'm going to get in his face. I'm not going anywhere.
"I'm a tactician. I'm a southpaw. Everything matches up perfectly for me."
Weidman will next fight either Rockhold or Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza, ideally at Madison Square Garden on Dec 5.
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I used to like Luke Cuckold. Him and Cormier are becoming tools.
Kimbos Lice -
I used to like Luke Cuckold. Him and Cormier are becoming tools.
rockhold has always been the same, but he has good points.
He is taller, longer, probably a better striker, has good TDD and a legit ground game.
I don't see a more interesting matchup outside of jones at this point.
Can't wait to see Weidman shut him up. 
Weidman has better wrestling, more power in his hands, and better boxing. Rockhold spams the hell out of that rear body kick though.
This is the most competitive fight to make, and I think he deserves the title shot.
If jacare ended up fighting Romero and winning I'd give him the shot but he fought camozzi twice during his win streak and no disrespect to a fellow uger but I think he needs a higher ranked win or two more.
I'll won't bet against weidman anytime soon
Weidman's a better wrestler, and for argument's sake, let's say Rockhold's ground game is better (which I don't think it is). Having said that, Rockhold won't be able to submit Weidman from his back, and won't be able to stop his takedowns.
I think Jacare would beat Rockhold in a rematch
Weidman will beat him. Jacare is a tougher match up for Chris.
ProctorMMA - Weidman will beat him. Jacare is a tougher match up for Chris.
Interesting. I would have said the opposite. I think Chris keeps it standing against Jacare but would have a harder time on the feet against Luke.
What's the reach of each fighter?
shaqitup - Kimbos Lice -
I used to like Luke Cuckold. Him and Cormier are becoming tools.
rockhold has always been the same, but he has good points.
He is taller, longer, probably a better striker, has good TDD and a legit ground game.
I don't see a more interesting matchup outside of jones at this point.
He's a better striker than the guy who stood TOE-TO-TOE with Anderson Silva and KO'd him and then dropped his ass the 2nd time around??????????????
shaqitup - Kimbos Lice -
I used to like Luke Cuckold. Him and Cormier are becoming tools.
rockhold has always been the same, but he has good points.
He is taller, longer, probably a better striker, has good TDD and a legit ground game.
I don't see a more interesting matchup outside of jones at this point.
He is in no way a better striker at all.
Do people not realize how special Weidman beating up fricken Machida on the feet is? Cos he outclassed him big time rounds 1-3 (then gassed a bit).
Mousasi got out foxed, and Luke was getting tagged till the slip/trip.
It will be a very interesting 1st two rounds.
Ray Cappa - SurgicalGloves - Can't wait to see Weidman shut him up.
This.
I feel this way too. Rockhold does not come off as a cool guy at all.........
I think he literally has nothing for Chris.
I think Rockhold-Weidman is a razor thin pick'em situation. Standing they are close. Rockhold is a little more well-rounded and smoother, but I think Weidman hits harder. Wrestling is not even close. Weidman all day. I think Rockhold is a little bit better w the submissions but he AINT catching Weidman in a submission. I think that old "intangible" - gameness - goes to Weidman.
Ray Cappa - I think Rockhold-Weidman is a razor thin pick'em situation. Standing they are close. Rockhold is a little more well-rounded and smoother, but I think Weidman hits harder. Wrestling is not even close. Weidman all day. I think Rockhold is a little bit better w the submissions but he AINT catching Weidman in a submission. I think that old "intangible" - gameness - goes to Weidman.
I'd have to disagree big time. Standing they are NO WHERE near each other. Rockhold has never looked good on his feet. Machida was all over him and TRT Vitor killed him. Chris stood and handled Lyoto several times standing and KO'd Anderson and dropped him in the 2nd fight.
BJJ is not eve close either. Matt Serra is a monster on the ground and he has said FOREVER that Chris is the true real deal. And so has Renzo. I think what people mistook as Vitor looking bad on the ground was really how impossible Chris is to deal with on the ground because he is the PERFECT blend of high-level wrestling and high-level BJJ...
I'll reiterate again that I think Luke has absolutely nothing for Chris besides being tough and well-rounded. He won't be a walk in the park but he does not threaten Chris anywhere. Chris has to fear Jacare on the ground but he can deal with Luke where ever the fight goes without having to hold back and be scared.
It's one of my favorite future match ups in any weight class.
Interesting to see different opinions of this fight....
Personally, I think Luke is the best MW alive right now by a decent margin. I'm not saying he destroys Chris, but I don't see where Weidman holds the distinct edge. Luke is the faster fighter, he fights longer, has great kicks and, while Chris clearly has a WRESTLING advantage, I think Luke's grappling abilities negate that. I don't necessarily see Luke subbing Chris from the bottom, but I do see him being able to keep the fight standing or use sweeps and threaten with subs enough to get back to his feet. I don't see Chris holding him down.
People forget that Luke has only lost to the TRT Vitor that was destroying everyone....he has DOMINATED every other opponent that we have seen him face. His last few fights have been absolutely brutal dominations of very high quality fighters.
Don't mean this to discredit Weidman, but I think that Luke wins a relatively one sided fight once they finally meet.
Rockhold is a beast as a grappler and has insane TD defense. If Weidman gets him down, which will be a giant chore, he won't keep Luke down. That's why this is a great fight. Luke could also wind up on top of Chris.
I think this is one of the 2-3 best possible matchups in all of the UFC right now.