Strikeforce middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold has been speaking about his preparations for dangerous number one contender, Tim Kennedy later this year, as well as admitting his ultimate goal is to make the switch to the UFC and face their number one guy… Anderson Silva.
Speaking via MMAFighting.com, Rockhold said:
“I’m trying to do what I can, and I think Tim Kennedy is another huge step in that direction. By no means is he a stepping stone, because he’s a very tough guy. It will take a lot to beat him and it would mean a lot to beat him. He’s a very underrated fighter, and I’m looking forward to keep proving my status, if that’s what I have to do. But I feel I can compete with anyone in the world at my weight class, and I’m going to prove that by keeping on winning.â€
“He’s (Kennedy) a tough guy, so tenacious, and just doesn’t want to give up. He’s going to keep coming for the takedown. He’s not going to quit but I’ve got to break him. My wrestling defence is one of my best attributes, so I feel very comfortable in that. I’m just going to try to break him on the takedown the whole time, and I’m going to try to play my range on the feet. If we get to the ground, I’m confident in my jiu-jitsu. I just don’t want to be on bottom. He’s a beast on top, so I ain’t going to have that.â€
“He’s so tough mentally, we’ve seen it in all his fights. I think everybody has a breaking point, and I just have to find it. That’s the key. Even if it’s just to make him change his game plan.â€
As for a potential future champion vs. champion showdown with Anderson Silva, Rockhold added:
“It’s the dream fight. I’m here to fight the best in the world, and it’d be a dream to fight Anderson Silva. If I didn’t fight him before his career was over, it would be a disappointment to me. I want to fight the best in the world, and fighting him would be amazing. And getting him while he’s champion? Everyone wants to be that guy to beat him. I want to go down in the books. I hope he keeps going, because I want that fight.â€
“I am the Strikeforce champ. But I feel like I’m in contention for his belt. That’s how I look at it sometimes. I am the champion of Strikeforce, but I’m looking to be the best in the world, and I can’t prove that without fighting the guys in the UFC. So, eventually, that’s what I’m going to need to do.â€
Rockhold recently defeated UFC veteran, Keith Jardine inside the Strikeforce cage, winning the bout in the first round via TKO. Perhaps the only man left on the Strikeforce roster left for him to beat is Tim Kennedy and hopefully they’ll be able to put that one together at some point over the summer months. Stay tuned to MMABay for more build-up to this one as we get it.
: Everybody calling Anderson Silva out recently. Anyways, i think Rockhold will eventually make his way over to the UFC it'll be tough for him to get a title shot right away as he'll have some top competition for the first time really in his career to get through first before he gets a shot at Silva.