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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=448430" target="_blank">
Rockhold: I want to knock out the top guys
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=448430" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=100&q=75&x=96&y=44&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=bisping-rockhold.jpg" /></a>
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<p>Luke Rockhold made a statement to the middleweight division with his dominating performance over Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night 55. Rockhold was already ranked fifth in the division and the win over ninth ranked Bisping likely won't move him up, but he's hoping his next fight will do exactly that:</p>
“All respect to ‘Jacare,’ but I’ll be beat you again,” he said. “I’m the No. 1 contender, and I’ll prove it any time I have to.”
Following the event, Rockhold said Souza wasn’t the only potential next opponent.
“I want to knock out the top guys,” he said. “Him and (Lyoto) Machida are the top, so either one will suit me fine.”
With Machida (21-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) already set to headline UFC Fight Night 58 against C.B Dollaway (15-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) on Dec. 20, a Rockhold vs. Souza rematch is more likely.
The pair first met back under the Strikeforce banner in 2011. In a war of attrition, Rockhold’s takedown defense was enough to keep Souza from applying his renowned submission game, and he earned a unanimous decision victory (via 50-45, 48-47 and 48-47 scores) to capture the Strikeforce middleweight title.
“I don’t why he’s above me in the rankings,” Rockhold said. “That definitely upsets me, people pegging him as the No. 1 contender.”
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