Morning Report: Luke Rockhold says he'll finish 'slow, slow, slow' Chris Weidman in second round

Don't worry about Luke Rockhold lacking any confidence.

The top contender faces UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman Dec. 12 at UFC 194, but Rockhold isn't feeling the pressure of challenging the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

"I don't feel nothing," Rockhold told Submission Radio. "I feel myself going in there and doing my job. That's what I feel. People want to see this as a close fight? I don't see it. I think Chris is going to be tough ... for a round. Maybe two. I'm going to run away with this fight. I'm going to take the belt home. Another belt to AKA [American Kickboxing Academy].

"Chris is just too slow. He's too slow. He's slow. That's all I've got to say. He's slow, slow, slow."

13-0 at 31, Weidman only began fighting as a pro in 2009, but Rockhold feels the champ is actually part of the old guard getting ready to exit the sport.

"I think he's a very tough guy," Rockhold said of Weidman. "I think he's got this division at the right time, but it's a new age. There's a new crop of guys coming up that are on a different level than anyone he's ever faced. I'm leading the way. He's in trouble in a lot of ways. I think our Lyoto Machida fights tell a very different story when we fought the same guy. The Vitor Belfort fight, we shouldn't even talk about it. It's not even in the same realm. We all know what the difference was, there. Anderson Silva is Anderson so who knows how those fights went. I'm more focused on current history."

A training partner of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, Rockhold says Weidman won't present issues he isn't used to seeing in the training room.

"I'm not scared of Weidman," said Rockhold. "He's fighting all of these guy that are scared of his wrestling and letting him dictate the pace of the fight. I dictate the pace of my fights. No one else. He's not going to bring anything that I'm not used to. I know he's good on the feet and on the ground but it's the same thing as Machida on the ground.

"I have a different level of speed and athleticism and he's not going to be able to keep up with me. He can't keep up, whether we're on the ground or on the feet, and that's where I plan on exposing every weakness he has."

A southpaw, Rockhold even called his shot on how he plans to stop Weidman.

"I'm going to shut Chris Weidman down in the first round," said Rockhold. "I'm going to expose him in the second round. I'm going to finish him with a left kick followed by a left punch. Simultaneously."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

He's back. UFC officially reinstates former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. "We've made it clear to Jon that this new opportunity to compete in UFC is a privilege and not a right, and that there are significant expectations we have regarding his conduct moving forward."

"I don't judge people." Quinton Jackson says "Jon Jones is bad for the sport." "We just try to do the same thing he's trying to do, earn a living and do the sport that we love."

GSP. Rory MacDonald says if former UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre comes back, he's more interested in "superfights" than the title.

Awful. Former UFC and Bellator vet Lavar Johnson jailed after alleged felony domestic assault on girlfriend.

Technique Talk. Firas Zahabi discusses the return of the guillotine choke and future of jiu-jitsu innovation.

MEDIA STEW

Octagon interviews with Louis Smolka and Paddy Holohan.

Fight Night Dublin post-fight presser highlights. (full presser here)

Ronda Rousey on FOX NFL Sunday.

Donald Cerrone hangs with some bulls in Las Vegas.

Highlights from Lion Fight 25.

Miesha Tate taps out an Aussie boy band.

(via r/MMA)

Long watches.

Fight Night Dublin: Q&A with Ben Rothwell, Andrei Arlovski, Rory MacDonald and Max Holloway

...

KNUCKLE UP #343: The Science of Bad Orgies, a UFC Fight Night Abortion Averted + a Jon bones jones

...

Submission Radio #70 Luke Rockhold, Tim Kennedy, Gene Lebell + UFC Dublin

TWEETS

Check out "Pros React" for UFC: Dublin and "This Week in Struggle."

Victory lap.

#ufchawaii @ufc @danawhite #areyounotentertained

— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) October 24, 2015

Wasn't a finish but a very important win needed mostly. Big thanks to these boys in my corner for all the work &... https://t.co/RRmMPvLalZ

— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) October 25, 2015

Back in #Brazil can not wait to see my girl and my daughter. And have some pizza https://t.co/fBOJz4Eb97

— Darren Till (@darrentill2) October 25, 2015

Great getting to meet his class fighter last night safe home lads @BlessedMMA pic.twitter.com/hhey5rKTva

— Neil 2 Tap Seery (@NeilSeeryMMA) October 25, 2015

Thank you Dublin for the best experience of my life. I can't find words. @UFCEurope pic.twitter.com/fwFHZg0Jht

— Aisling Daly (@aisydaly) October 25, 2015

Kilka słów ode mnie A few words from me https://t.co/nXrL3cZpFc

— Krzysztof Jotko (@JotkoMMA) October 25, 2015

Respect @Pendred all the best in the future. I know you will be back stronger.

— Tom Breese (@BreeseMMA) October 25, 2015

@Renato_Laranja glad to make you to be proud!

— Tom Breese (@BreeseMMA) October 26, 2015

Feels great to get the win in Dublin! #ufcdublin https://t.co/AndPxUebYQ

— Darren Elkins (@DarrenElkinsMMA) October 24, 2015

To my sponsors, my team and my family. You are the reason I can do what I do. Thank You. #ProudlySA #UFCDublin pic.twitter.com/WshJyUFw4c

— Garreth McLellan (@SoldierboyInc) October 24, 2015

Better luck next time.

@SOBrien18 we be back on that horse soon pal thanks for the support

— Patrick Holohan (@PaddyHolohanMMA) October 25, 2015

@stormin_norman155 it was a pleasure sharing the octagon with you! ❤️مرسى از حماياتتون pic.twitter.com/5fNhYNtNbK

— rezamaddog (@RezaMaddog) October 24, 2015

The guy to the left and me just smashed each other heads in. I hope you enjoyed the fight . Win,... https://t.co/eZXB3N2vVh

— Nicolas Dalby (@DalbyMMA) October 24, 2015

No excuse, I had the preparation he needed and the time it took. Thanks to my partners

Pas d'excuse, j'ai eu la preparation qu'il fallait et le temps qu'il fallait. Merci a mes partenaires Vitamin&co... https://t.co/DJ6JFTzDQK

— mickael lebout (@LeboutMickael) October 24, 2015

Thank you so much guys. Was not this time. But I'm going to work harder and more. Give up ever.

Muito obrigada pessoal. Não foi desta vez. Mas vou trabalhar mais e mais. Desistir nunca. https://t.co/pxe025eJaG

— Ericka Almeida (@ErickaAlmeidaGT) October 24, 2015

Story of the fight! I thought I did enough maybe the blood made it look worse. I don't know. I... https://t.co/bDH9N4iNPh

— scott askham (@scottaskham1) October 24, 2015

I've a few bumps & bruises, but nothing hurts more than my pride. But if you learn from defeat, it's not failure. Thanks for the support.

— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) October 25, 2015

I left it all In there @UFCEurope

— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) October 24, 2015

The return.

DC responds.

Beef.

@ryanbader are we gonna sit and wait forever or are we gonna fight? Much respect to you but we need to fight...... https://t.co/scVn18BcpX

— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) October 23, 2015

Smolka is a super nice and humble kid. I met Paddy a few times and he was cocky and rude

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) October 24, 2015

Worse UFC fighter ever -> Something Daly!!

— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) October 24, 2015

I don't know and don't give a FUCK who yamaguchi is but the real contender is ME fuck you all!!! #BellatorMMA #ImKillEmAll

— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) October 24, 2015

Had some respect for Held but after watching his fights I've lost that respect. Diving to the floor is for cowards...

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 24, 2015

U notice sideburns didnt tag me...haha ya thats a for sure sign ur not a coward..lolol. RT @IndiaGomesMMA: pic.twitter.com/5KY668KLqI

— tonya evinger (@tonyaevinger) October 25, 2015

Not gonna lie , not what I was expected but i'm a compagny guy and a professionnal athlete #fightersFight https://t.co/bcLodZOKYw

— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) October 23, 2015

U asked 4 Top 15 & they gave you me. I feel honored. Sorry I'm not who you wanted. Big fan since you @titoortiz https://t.co/3zj2a07c9H

— Ben Saunders (@bensaundersMMA) October 24, 2015

Camping.

You do not want us dissecting your game and plotting your demise. Sunday work with Roddy. #SBG #Primal #UNIFY pic.twitter.com/y679bI3BbF

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 25, 2015

Thanks again @BryanCaraway and @MieshaTate for the training today @MonsterEnergy @metalmulisha pic.twitter.com/W1myKLGFQP

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) October 25, 2015

Feels good to be back in my element, 7weeks and counting #jointheteam https://t.co/WAxRKKYv7A pic.twitter.com/OZIFIOmvtB

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) October 24, 2015

#UFC193 training camp week 3 #rouseyVSholm #UFCMelbourne #Nov14th #andSTILL Video by @jakeflores78 https://t.co/iYUledKMgU

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 24, 2015

While the world tries to decode her armbar, @rondarousey is hard at work on her reverse triangles! By... https://t.co/teAgeFRbJV

— Rener Gracie (@RenerGracie) October 23, 2015

While the world tries to decode her armbar, @rondarousey is hard at work on her reverse triangles! By @hansgutknecht #andstill #GracieJiuJitsu #UFCMelbourne

A video posted by renergracie (@renergracie) on Oct 23, 2015 at 2:55pm PDT

Get well soon.

Não há vitória sem luta. Ossos do ofício!Ninguém vai me parar! There's no victory without fight.Nobody will stop me! pic.twitter.com/wOiKuhUdES

— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) October 25, 2015

Recruiting(?).

チームノゲイラを視察して来ました！やはり才能の宝庫です！恐るべしノゲイラブラザーズ。#rizinff #mmajp pic.twitter.com/Xd9vipSUil

— NOBUYUKI SAKAKIBARA (@nobu_sakakibara) October 25, 2015

Gonna be popular this year.

Be very afraid https://t.co/Um0VHPj0yL

— Dana White (@danawhite) October 25, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced this weekend (Oct. 23-25 2015)

Patrick Cote vs. Ben Saunders at UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.