When Luke Rockhold decided to make his return to the UFC, he had no interest in facing lesser competition or getting some sort of warm up for his first fight back in three years.
Instead, Paulo Costa was asked by the promotion to promote one of the best fighters in this division. He is known for his impressive knockout power and granite chin. Calling for that kind of opponent might seem dangerous, especially for somebody coming back after such a long layoff, but Rockhold wouldn’t have it any other way.
” It’s been this way for me,” Rockhold said to MMA Fighting. The greater the risk, so the higher the reward. You can’t live if you don’t want to die. This is how I work .”
Beyond Costa’s considerable skills and standing in the division, Rockhold also called for the fight knowing the drama that has often times followed the Brazilian standout. Ahead of his most recent fight with Marvin Vettori in October 2021, Costa showed up 25 pounds over the middleweight limit before negotiating a deal to move the matchup to light heavyweight. Then Costa agreed to the fight with Rockhold for a card in July but the bout was eventually delayed to Aug. 20 instead at UFC 278.
While this might cause some people to hesitate about fighting Costa, Rockhold was consistently assured by UFC officials that the fight was proceeding as planned — at middleweight.
” I’m not here for the fight with the guy at 205,” Rockhold. “I’m here to fight at middleweight and show that I can compete at the top of the game and make weight. That’s the name of the game. This is the f ****** rule. That’s what is in play.
” We don’t have a 195-pound class. We don’t have these in between weight classes. What we have is what we keep. That’s the f****** contract. This is .”
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While Rockhold insists on Costa getting to 186 lbs — which is the limit for non-title middleweight bouts — he admits that he has put in everything for this fight, regardless of how the scale turns out. Rockhold put aside his lucrative business ventures and gave up his life to prepare for his UFC return. He is counting on Costa’s performance ahead of Friday’s weigh ins.
” I’m fighting this momf *******, but it has to be realistic,” Rockhold stated. “There’s got to be to a point. I believe 190, or 195, but I have my sights set on this guy and I will f ****** wax it .”
Rockhold says that his return to action was different from any other appearances. He’s fully committed since the start of UFC 278.
Rockhold admitted that he didn’t put everything in his previous run with UFC. This was especially true after he reached the summit and won 2015. champion.
“You can’t be half in, half out and I’ve been that way over the last five years,” Rockhold said. Rockhold said, “Ever since I got the title, it’s been a long time since that happened. I’m in now. I’m f****** ready. I’m solely here for this.”
Of course, Rockhold has also undergone multiple surgeries during his time away and that takes a serious toll on the body. Thankfully the extended break gave him the necessary time to recover, which in turn gave Rockhold a new lease on his athletic life.
” I feel f ****** incredible,” Rockhold stated. “I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my life. Literally, everything I have done has been devoted to recovery, training, and striving to be the best version of myself.
“I don’t go out. I don’t drink. I haven’t drank in over four months. In the past four months, I’ve not had one ****** alcoholic drink. Not saying I had a problem but I just don’t have the urge to go out and do these things. To be more ****** efficient, I have to stay focused on what the heck I must do to make my life better .”
Rockhold knows that time does not wait for anyone and that the UFC was running out of time for him. That’s why he returned fully focused and realistic about the future as Rockhold looks to scratch and claw his way back to the top again.
” Now that 37, is closing my window, it makes me want more of this,” Rockhold stated. “[It makes me] put every f****** last second of myself into it.”
