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[Cat--Smasher]

Luke Rockhold Prepares for Tim Kennedy, With Hope of Anderson Silva 'Dream Match'

For Luke Rockhold, it's back to punching, back to kicking, back to making new believers. Though he hasn't gotten the official word quite yet, the Strikeforce middleweight champion has been informally told that his next title defense will come against Tim Kennedy, likely in July.

Coming on the heels of his title win over Ronaldo "Jacare" Souze and a successful first defense in an opening-round knockout of Keith Jardine, Rockhold is hoping to cement his place among the world's top middleweights.

In his mind, he's already gotten there. Now, it's just a matter of convincing the rest of us.

"I’m trying to do what I can, and I think Tim Kennedy is another huge step in that direction," he told MMA Fighting. "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."

"He’s a tough guy, so tenacious, and just doesn’t want to give up," he said. "He’s going to keep coming for the takedown. He’s not going to quit but I’ve got to break him. My wrestling defense 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."

Kennedy's best attribute might well be his tenacity. The longtime Army Special Forces soldier has seen combat in danger zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, so it's surprising to hear Rockhold mention the possibility of "breaking" someone like that. Then again, fighters who reach the championship level are used to beating the odds.

"He’s so tough mentally, we've seen it in all his fights," he said. "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

"It’s the dream fight," he said. "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.

"I am the Strikeforce champ," he continued, "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."

Luke Rockhold Prepares for Tim Kennedy, With Hope of Anderson Silva 'Dream Match' - MMA Fighting

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Fuck, Kennedy/Rockhold is going to be a damned war! Super excited for this match. Whoever wins this fight IMO gets into the top 5, maybe even top 3 of contenders at MW. This is a huge damn measuring rod fight for both of them, I like both of them so I don't so much care who wins, but jeez louis this is a fight I've really wanted to see for some time.

PS, Jacare needs to get the fuck out of SF, that division is deadzies and he's beaten everybody sans Rockhold(in a blah fight), I suppose he takes on the winner of this bout, but I'd rather see him fighting more diverse opponents while he's still in his prime.

[lwbrewer]

Even if you are the best in the world fighting in SF or most any other Org than the UFC you'll never get just credit for it.

[disposableassassin]

Originally Posted by lwbrewer

Even if you are the best in the world fighting in SF or most any other Org than the UFC you'll never get just credit for it.

Just ask fedor

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

Fuck, Kennedy/Rockhold is going to be a damned war! Super excited for this match. Whoever wins this fight IMO gets into the top 5, maybe even top 3 of contenders at MW. This is a huge damn measuring rod fight for both of them, I like both of them so I don't so much care who wins, but jeez louis this is a fight I've really wanted to see for some time.

I'm just hoping everyone stays healthy.

PS, Jacare needs to get the fuck out of SF, that division is deadzies and he's beaten everybody sans Rockhold(in a blah fight), I suppose he takes on the winner of this bout, but I'd rather see him fighting more diverse opponents while he's still in his prime.

I think he's been given some gift decisions in SF, I thought he lost to Kennedy, and he's been a punk about rematches...I'd like to see him in the UFC just to see him actually fight.

rh

[mma #1 fan]

Originally Posted by disposableassassin

Just ask fedor

Yeah Fedor did not hold on to the "BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD" for years after he clearly was no longer the best in his weight class much less over all .
Can't wait for this fight no stop action

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Originally Posted by rivethead

I'm just hoping everyone stays healthy.


I think he's been given some gift decisions in SF, I thought he lost to Kennedy, and he's been a punk about rematches...I'd like to see him in the UFC just to see him actually fight.

rh

Aside from the razor close Kennedy decision(which IMO Tim didn't do himself too many favors in that fight to earn himself the solid win either), Jacare's subbed everyone during his SF run but Joey and totally took that fight handedly, so I dunno about him being 'gifted' too many fights per se.

I can't think of anybody Jacare ducked anybody aside from Kennedy, please genuinely correct me if there's more.

For my money, we haven't been given the opportunity to see Jacare fight a range of quality opponents and SF is just so damn lax in booking relevant fights for him recently. At least in the UFC, even if he's only fighting a top 20er, it's above Keith Jardine or some unknown and we could see how legit he is. Bit of a punk true, but I love watching him fight.

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

I can't think of anybody Jacare ducked anybody aside from Kennedy, please genuinely correct me if there's more.

He ducked Mayhem after the illegal soccer kick forced the NC on their second fight. The first fight was close enough to warrent a rematch, and since he was losing the second before the NC, I felt that should get a rubber match--even though I felt it shouldn't have been an NC, it should have been a DQ for Miller.

I'll be happy to see him fight, if he does indeed fight.

I'll be happy to see any of the SF fighters who are languishing between bouts or are facing less-than-competitive opponents fight.

rh

[dbader08]

^You had Mayhem winning the 2nd match until the NC? I thought it was clear that Jacare was winning that fight.