The final moments of Luke Rockhold’s UFC career won’t soon be forgotten.
Rockhold recently closed out his 15-year run in MMA with a gritty effort at UFC 278. Although he lost to Paulo Costa in a close fight, it was an unforgettable bout that saw both fighters dig down deep at the Salt Lake City elevation. But it was a sequence in the final minute that drew the most attention, as the former middleweight champion reversed into top position and vigorously used his own damaged face to smear blood all over Costa’s face, igniting social media and leaving Costa drenched in crimson.
Rockhold explains his thoughts regarding the sequence of The MMA Hour .
“It was just a ‘f*** you, you’re a b****,'” Rockhold said. I can recall just talking back-and-forth and just understanding that there is a difference between someone who’s pointing at you and somebody who’s out for the kill. And I felt like I was there to kill or be killed, and he was out there trying to get by. If more time exists — I rushed it, I f****** should’ve had that mount position and it would’ve been over. That’s how the world works. I just rushed into that one and fell behind, and kept putting myself behind and having to dig myself back up.
“But, I felt that I was there with a less man. I wanted to tell him: “You’re my b ****.'”
A former UFC and Strikeforce champion, Rockhold noted that the damage he suffered in his war of attrition with Costa appears to have been largely limited.
While he may have been a bloody mess throughout the bout, Rockhold said he doesn’t expect to require any post-fight surgery, regardless of how bad things may have seemed.
“Honestly, he broke my nose back into place,” Rockhold said. “He kept f****** [pissing me] off because he broke my nose and then he kept hitting me on my nose, and I could feel the f****** thing just crunching in my face, and I was like, ‘F***!’ That was really kind of pissing me off the most. That got me back in that fight. It’s a must that ****** takes me out, I suppose.
“It was definitely off [beforehand], my nose was off, and I think he even took down some of the bump, you know, from the side angle,” Rockhold added. “So he straightened me up and he took off my ridge, and so I was like, ‘F***, I’ve got a Hollywood nose job.'”
Rockhold added that he doesn’t have any ill will for Costa now that the bout is over, though that doesn’t mean he and the Brazilian are going to be friendly anytime soon.
“I don’t see him as an animuse — there’s nothing I can do to hurt his feelings. Rockhold said, “And that fight, him raising his hand, is what tells the story of who we really are.” At the very least, I believe people can see me. It’s okay. Whatever.”
All in all, Rockhold said he is proud of the way he managed to end his decorated career at UFC 278. Despite his three-fight losing streak, Rockhold proved something to himself with such a valiant performance coming off a layoff that stretched longer than three years.
His journey since winning the 2015 title over Chris Weidman was fraught with bad luck and injuries. But Rockhold went on his terms.
“I appreciate myself and the effort I put into it, and f****** it just all came out,” Rockhold said. I’ve made a commitment to my family and have changed how I live. When you reach the top, it becomes difficult to see that. You lose sight of it, you start playing to society and like, what does society want? When you get to that mountaintop, you start playing like, ‘What does it take?’
“You already got to the top, you’ve got to be the king of the game, and then you’re like, ‘Now how do I navigate what society wants from me?’ I think that’s what a lot of people do — men lose track of themselves. It was the real me, my true self digging up the old dog I used to have before Weidman. It felt good. It was good to see it .”
