Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is only a few days from his return to action at UFC 278. Rockhold told the assembled press at the pre-fight media day that he just hopes Costa can make weight this time, after his last outing saw the Cuban fighter miss weight by over twenty pounds.
“I’m not here to fight the guy at 205. 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. That’s the f****** rules. That’s what is in play.
Days Away From UFC 278, Luke Rockhold Just Hopes Paulo Costa Makes Weight
We don’t have a 195-pound weight class. We don’t have these in between weight classes. We stick with what we have and that’s what we do. That’s the f****** contract. That’s the thing.
I’m fighting this motherf******* but it’s got to be realistic. There’s got to be to a point. I think 190, maybe even 195 but I’ve got my mind set on this dude and I’m going to f****** wax that ass.”
Rockhold appears intent on fighting Costa, even if his opponent fails to make the 185-pound weight limit. His last appearance in the Octagon was in July 2019, a loss to Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight. In the three years since, Rockhold has had plenty of time to fix his body and mind, including recovery from several surgeries, and focus entirely on this chapter of his MMA career.
“You can’t be half in, half out and I’ve been that way over the last five years. Ever since getting the title, I haven’t been there. I’m in now. I’m f****** ready. I’m solely here for this.
I feel f****** unbelievable. I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my life. Literally, I’ve devoted every last second, every last minute to training and recovery and just furthering myself to being the best I can be.
I don’t go out. I don’t drink. I haven’t drank in over four months. I haven’t had a f****** drink of alcohol. Not saying I had a problem but I just don’t have the urge to go out and do these things. I’m single-track focused to doing whatever the f*** I need to do to be better every f****** day.
Now being 37, knowing my window is closing, it kind of provokes me to want this more. Put every f****** last second of myself into it.”
Will we see Luke Rockhold deliver a comeback victory this weekend? Let us know in the comments.
