The world is Luke Rockhold's oyster. At least for a little while. The American Kickboxing Academy middleweight didn't just win the UFC middleweight title on Saturday night in the co-main event of UFC 194. Rockhold also managed to do by stopping Chris Weidman via TKO in the fourth round.
Rockhold and Weidman spent roughly two rounds in competitive action before Rockhold moved ahead in the third. Toward the end of that frame, Rockhold moved to and held mount, raining down a series of strikes toward the bell that gave referee Herb Dean all the cause needed to stop the fight. Weidman made it out of the round, but was stopped in the next round thereafter. Essentially, what Rockhold started, he finished.
This led some in the media to wonder what would be next for the middleweight champ. Would the controversial win of Yoel Romero over Ronaldo Souza take precedence or does Weidman get a rematch? Rockhold shared his perspective.
"I know he's a tough guy, yeah. I think he's a cut above technically and obviously toughness," Rockhold told the media at the post-fight press conference. "But like I said, I wasn't joking when I said that before.
"I really believe I'll have the advantage everywhere this fight goes every time," Rockhold continued. "I think he'll come back, but I'll put him right back down."
As for as Rockhold is concerned, he's not overly focused on who the next challenger could be: Yoel Romero, Chris Weidman or anyone else. Ultimately, he argues it doesn't matter. As champ now, he believes his resume means he rates a level of recognition for his ability. Whoever is next is irrelevant, Rockhold claims, because there's no one like him.
"I got a lot of respect for him, but these guys aren't competing with me," Rockhold stated defiantly. "I don't see anybody out there. "