| Luke Rockhold | |
|---|---|
 Luke Rockhold atUFC 229 press conference in October 2018 | |
| Born | Luke Skyler Rockhold (1984-10-17)October 17, 1984 (age 40) Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |
| Division | Middleweight (2007–2018, 2022) Light Heavyweight (2019) |
| Reach | 77 in (196 cm)[1] |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Team | American Kickboxing Academy RVCA Training Center Sanford MMA |
| Trainer | Javier Mendez Henri Hooft Jason Parillo |
| Rank | 1st degree black belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]underLeandro Vieira[3]and Dave Camarillo[citation needed] |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 22 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Website | lukerockhold |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing United States | ||
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | ||
| World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship | ||
 | 2007 Long Beach | -91.5kg |
| World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | ||
| 2007 Long Beach | -94.3kg |
| Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship | ||
 | 2006 Long Beach | -88.3kg |
Luke Skyler Rockhold[4] (born October 17, 1984) is an American retiredmixed martial artist who is currently signed withBare Knuckle Fighting Championship andKarate Combat. He formerly competed for theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a formerUFC Middleweight Champion. Rockhold has also competed forStrikeforce, where he was the finalStrikeforce Middleweight Champion before the promotion merged with theUFC.
Rockhold was born on October 17, 1984, inSanta Cruz, California, from an athletic family. Growing up, Luke and his older brother, pro-surfer Matt Rockhold, surfed their local breaks together. His father was aprofessional basketball player in Europe[5] and his mother was an avid tennis player. Luke started training injudo when he was 6 years old but quit upon turning ten.[6] When he entered the seventh grade, he joined his school'swrestling team and stuck with the sport all throughout his time atSoquel High School[7] while taking jiu-jitsu classes. Rockhold's great grandfather was a full bloodNative American. He is also ofGerman,Irish andEnglish descent.[8]
Rockhold tried wrestling for a local community college but decided to take jiu-jitsu on full-time.[9] After winning a few BJJ tournaments, he decided to enter mixed martial arts. In 2006, a friend invited Rockhold to train at theAmerican Kickboxing Academy (AKA) inSan Jose, California.[9]
Up-and-coming promotionStrikeforce called and offered Rockhold a fight on theirStrikeforce: Young Guns II card. Rockhold looked impressive in his debut, forcing his opponent to submit from punches. Impressed with his performance, Strikeforce decided to give him another fight. The second fight took place on theStrikeforce: Destruction card, which Rockhold won via submission. AtStrikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz, Rockhold won his third consecutive fight. Rockhold was given a step up in competition when he foughtCory Devela atStrikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg. Even though he was the underdog going into the fight, he won that fight in just 30 seconds with his third rear-naked choke submission in a row.[10][11]
AtStrikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista, Rockhold defeatedThe Ultimate Fighter 7 contestant,Jesse Taylor. The fight improved his record to 5–0 under the Strikeforce banner. In February 2010, Rockhold defeated anotherUltimate Fighter 7 finalist,Paul Bradley, and won via TKO (knees to the body). The fight took place atStrikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi inSan Jose, California. With the win, Rockhold hoped to fight against tougher and well-known fighters.[12] In addition to the win, Rockhold was announced as a playable character for theEA Sports MMA video game.[13] Rockhold was scheduled to fightMatt Lindland atStrikeforce: San Jose but pulled out a few weeks before the fight due to a shoulder injury.[14] Rockhold was expected to face former title contender,Tim Kennedy, atStrikeforce 32;[15] however, for unknown reasons, Rockhold was removed from the bout.
After more than a year and a half hiatus from fighting due to injuries, Rockhold stepped into the cage to fightStrikeforceMiddleweight championRonaldo Souza on September 10, 2011.[16] He won the fight via unanimous decision (50–45, 48–47, and 48–47) to become the new Strikeforce Middleweight champion.[17] For his first title defense, Rockhold facedKeith Jardine atStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on January 7, 2012.[18] Rockhold won the fight via TKO in the first round.
In his second title defense, Rockhold facedTim Kennedy in the main event ofStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy on July 14, 2012. During the weigh-ins for the bout on July 13, Rockhold came in a half-pound overweight. Rockhold cut the extra weight in the allotted two-hour limit. He successfully defended his title for a second time, winning the fight via unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, and 49–46).[19]
For his third title defense, Rockhold was expected to face challengerLorenz Larkin atStrikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir on November 3, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[20] However, Rockhold was forced to withdraw from the show due to injury and the event was later cancelled.[21] The fight was rumored to be rescheduled on January 12, 2013.[22] However, Rockhold never agreed to the bout, citing a lingering shoulder injury.
In January 2013, the Strikeforce organization was closed by its parent company Zuffa. A list of fighters scheduled to be brought over to theUltimate Fighting Championship was released in mid-January and Rockhold was one of the fighters listed.[23]
Rockhold faced perennial multi-divisional contenderVitor Belfort on May 18, 2013, in the main event atUFC on FX 8.[24] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, after being caught with a spinning heel kick to the face.[25]
Rockhold was expected to faceTim Boetsch on October 19, 2013, atUFC 166.[26] However, Rockhold was forced out of the bout, citing a knee injury, and he was replaced byC.B. Dollaway.[27] Rockhold facedCostas Philippou on January 15, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 35.[28] He won via TKO in the first round after dropping Philippou with a kick to the body.[29] The performance also earned Rockhold a $50,000Knockout of the Night bonus.[30] Rockhold eventually faced Tim Boetsch on April 26, 2014, atUFC 172.[31] He won the fight via submission in the first round.[32]
Rockhold facedMichael Bisping on November 8, 2014, atUFC Fight Night 55.[33] He won the fight in the second round, after dropping Bisping with a head kick and then applying a guillotine choke submission.[34] The win earned Rockhold his firstPerformance of the Night bonus award.[35]
On April 18, 2015, Rockhold faced former UFC Light Heavyweight ChampionLyoto Machida atUFC on Fox 15.[36] Rockhold defeated Machida in a one-sided fight via submission in the second round.[37] Rockhold also earned his second consecutivePerformance of the Night bonus award.[38]
It's a bad fight for Chris, stylistically. Luke is really hard to take down, and when you get him down his Jiu Jitsu is amazing. It's one of the best and underrated offensive Jiu Jitsu games in MMA. [Luke] has the range, he has the height, he has the size, he has the power ...
Rockhold next facedChris Weidman for theUFC Middleweight Championship on December 12, 2015, atUFC 194.[40] Rockhold won by technical knockout in the fourth round and became the 7th middleweight champion in UFC history.[41] Both participants were awardedFight of the Night honors.[42] In the post-fight interview, Rockhold illuminated his struggles prior to the fight: he had been battling a staph infection and was on antibiotics, which made him exhausted during the later rounds of the fight.[43] Being a Santa Cruz native and becoming the UFC Middleweight Champion, his hometownSanta Cruz, California, proclaimed December 18, asLuke Rockhold Day crediting his victory and achievements.[44]
A rematch with Weidman was scheduled to take place on June 4, 2016, atUFC 199.[45] However, Weidman pulled out of the fight on May 17 with a cervical disc herniation, and he was replaced byMichael Bisping.[46][47] His title match against Bisping ended in the first round when Rockhold was dropped with a left hook and finished with a flurry of punches against the cage.[48] This result was considered by many in MMA media as one of the biggest upsets in the UFC title fight history, Bisping being a huge underdog because he took the fight in only 10 days and had been submitted by Rockhold 18 months earlier.
Rockhold was expected to faceRonaldo Souza in a rematch on November 27, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 101.[49] However, the pairing was cancelled on November 1, after Rockhold was ruled out of the contest after sustaining an undisclosed injury. As a result, Souza was also removed from the card.[50]
Rockhold faced former two-timeWSOF championDavid Branch on September 16, 2017, atUFC Fight Night 116 after being away from the sport for almost 15 months due to injuries.[51] He won the fight by forcing Branch to tap out from his punches in the second round.[52]
Rockhold was scheduled to fight on February 10, 2018, atUFC 221 againstUFC Middleweight ChampionRobert Whittaker.[53][54] On January 13, 2018, it was reported that Whittaker pulled out from his bout against Rockhold at UFC 221 due to a serious condition of staph infection.[55] He was replaced byYoel Romero in a bout for the Interim UFC Middleweight Championship. The winner of this bout would then face Whittaker for a title unification bout.[56] At theUFC 221 weigh-ins, Romero weighed in at 187.7 pounds, 2.7 pounds over the middleweight championship limit of 185.0 pounds. As a result, Romero was ineligible to win the championship even if he won the fight, while Rockhold would have received the Interim Championship if he had won. Romero was also fined 30% of his purse, which went to Rockhold.[57] After a slow start, Romero knocked Rockhold out in the third round.[58]
Rockhold was briefly linked to a light heavyweight bout withAlexander Gustafsson on August 4, 2018, atUFC 227. However, Rockhold later re-injured his leg in training and the fight was scuttled.[59]
A rematch withChris Weidman was expected to take place on November 3, 2018, atUFC 230.[60] However, on October 19, 2018, it was reported Rockhold withdrew from the bout, citing an injury, and he was replaced byRonaldo Souza.[61]
In December 2018, Rockhold announced he will be moving up to light heavyweight due to ever-increasingly harder weight cuts that have led to numerous injuries during training.[62] Rockhold's light heavyweight debut took place againstJan Błachowicz on July 6, 2019, atUFC 239.[63] Rockhold lost the fight via knockout in the second round.[64]
After a two year lay off, Rockhold was expected to faceSean Strickland in a middleweight bout on November 6, 2021, atUFC 268.[65] However, on October 11 Rockhold withdrew due to aherniated disc.[66]
Rockhold was scheduled to facePaulo Costa on July 30, 2022, atUFC 277.[67] However, the bout was postponed to August 20, atUFC 278.[68] Rockhold lost the fight via unanimous decision. The fight earned him theFight of the Night award.[69] Rockhold retired from mixed martial arts after the fight.[70] Although Rockhold retired from MMA competition, he has been vocal about his interest in pursuing a career in boxing.[71]
In January 2023, Rockhold announced that he had negotiated a release from his UFC contract and would come out of retirement to compete for another MMA organization.[72]
Luke Rockhold andTyron Woodley coached a group of fighters in a Hardcore FC Fight Show reality TV series for Hardcore FC promotion which was filmed in the United Arab Emirates during April and May of 2024.[73]
On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Rockhold was signed byGlobal Fight League.[74]
In the company's first announced bout, Rockhold is scheduled to faceChris Weidman in a rematch at ato be announced date and location.[75]
Rockhold competed againstNick Rodriguez atPolaris 12 on November 30, 2019, where he lost a unanimous decision.
Rockhold was scheduled to faceCraig Jones in a grappling match at Israel Fight Night on September 21, 2023,[76] but the event was cancelled.
Rockhold competed in the over 80kg division of the inauguralCraig Jones Invitational on August 16 and 17, 2024.[77] He lost toPat Downey by decision in the opening round.[78]
On March 1, 2023, BKFC president Dave Feldman announced that Rockhold had signed withBare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He made his debut againstMike Perry atBKFC 41 on April 29, 2023, and retired during the fight losing by technical knockout.[79][80]
Rockhold made hisKarate Combat debut by facingJoe Schilling on April 20, 2024 at Karate Combat 45 in Dubai in a 195 pound catchweight bout.[81] He won the bout by a right hook knockout in the third round.[82]
Rockhold signed up for the New York model management agency, Soul Artist Management, the same agency that found fellow UFC fighterAlan Jouban and jump started the career ofChanning Tatum. Luke has since had his first spread released as a professional model. With his modeling career quickly picking up steam, he revealed that he would have no problem taking an indefinite hiatus from the Octagon in order to pursue his newly found modeling career. He has also modeled at theNew York Fashion Week.[83]
In 2018 Rockhold became the new face ofRalph Lauren's "Polo Blue" cologne fragrance.[84]
Rockhold was featured as a guest onThe Millionaire Matchmaker reality show onBravo TV in 2015. On the show he dated mixologist, Kara. Rockhold departed the show after asking Kara an inappropriate question. He defended himself by saying that the comment was a scripted joke and that the editor dubbed it in the scene later on.[85]
Rockhold dated singer and actorDemi Lovato for a few months in late 2016. The duo made their first public appearance while attendingUFC 205 together, atMadison Square Garden in New York.[86][87] They split in January 2017.[88]
In February 2022, a girlfriend of Rockhold's had an abortion, and they subsequently broke up.[89]
Rockhold is an avid surfer, skateboarder,[90]and a professional model, having modeled at theNew York Fashion Week and as the face ofRalph Lauren's "Polo Blue" fragrance.[91]
| 22 matches | 16 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 5 |
| By submission | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–6 | Paulo Costa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 278 | August 20, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City,Utah, United States | Return to Middleweight. Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 16–5 | Jan Błachowicz | KO (punches) | UFC 239 | July 6, 2019 | 2 | 1:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 16–4 | Yoel Romero | KO (punches) | UFC 221 | February 10, 2018 | 3 | 1:48 | Perth,Western Australia, Australia | For the interimUFC Middleweight Championship. Romero missed weight (187.7 lb) and was ineligible to win the title. |
| Win | 16–3 | David Branch | TKO (submission to punches) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Branch | September 16, 2017 | 2 | 4:04 | Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Loss | 15–3 | Michael Bisping | KO (punches) | UFC 199 | June 4, 2016 | 1 | 3:36 | Inglewood, California, United States | Lost theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–2 | Chris Weidman | TKO (punches) | UFC 194 | December 12, 2015 | 4 | 3:12 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won theUFC Middleweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–2 | Lyoto Machida | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold | April 18, 2015 | 2 | 2:31 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–2 | Michael Bisping | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping | November 8, 2014 | 2 | 0:57 | Sydney, Australia | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–2 | Tim Boetsch | Submission (inverted triangle kimura) | UFC 172 | April 26, 2014 | 1 | 2:08 | Baltimore,Maryland, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Costas Philippou | KO (body kick) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou | January 15, 2014 | 1 | 2:31 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | Knockout of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–2 | Vitor Belfort | KO (spinning heel kick and punches) | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold | May 18, 2013 | 1 | 2:32 | Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–1 | Tim Kennedy | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy | July 14, 2012 | 5 | 5:00 | Portland,Oregon, United States | Defended theStrikeforce Middleweight Championship. Broke the record for the most consecutive Strikeforce Middleweight Championship title defenses (2). |
| Win | 9–1 | Keith Jardine | TKO (punches) | Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine | January 7, 2012 | 1 | 4:26 | Paradise,Nevada, United States | Defended theStrikeforce Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Ronaldo Souza | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov | September 10, 2011 | 5 | 5:00 | Cincinnati,Ohio, United States | Won theStrikeforce Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Paul Bradley | TKO (knees to the body) | Strikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi | February 26, 2010 | 1 | 2:24 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Jesse Taylor | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Evangelista | November 6, 2009 | 1 | 3:42 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Cory Devela | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg | June 19, 2009 | 1 | 0:30 | Kent,Washington, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Buck Meredith | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz | April 11, 2009 | 1 | 4:07 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Nik Theotikos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce: Destruction | November 21, 2008 | 1 | 3:06 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Josh Neal | TKO (submission to punches) | Strikeforce: Young Guns II | February 1, 2008 | 1 | 1:49 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Tony Rubalcava | TKO (punches) | Melee on the Mountain | November 6, 2007 | 1 | 2:46 | Friant, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Mike Martinez | Submission (armbar) | Melee on the Mountain | July 24, 2007 | 1 | 2:44 | Friant,California, United States |
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Mike Perry | TKO (retirement) | BKFC 41 | April 29, 2023 | 2 | 1:15 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Joe Schilling | TKO (punches) | Karate Combat 45 | April 20, 2024 | 3 | 1:43 | Dubai,United Arab Emirates |
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | City | Venue | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 199 | Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 | June 4, 2016 | Inglewood, California, United States | Kia Forum | 283,000[101] |
| 2. | UFC 221 | Romero vs. Rockhold | February 11, 2018 | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | Perth Arena | 130,000[102] |
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | City | Venue | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | BKFC 41 | Perry vs. Rockhold | April 29, 2023 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | 1stBank Center | TBA |
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 5thStrikeforce Middleweight Champion September 10, 2011 – January 12, 2013 | Vacant Strikeforce banner dissolved into UFC |
| Preceded by | 7thUFC Middleweight Champion December 12, 2015 – June 4, 2016 | Succeeded by |
Strikeforce Final Champions | |
|---|---|
| Heavyweight | |
| Light Heavyweight | |
| Middleweight | |
| Welterweight | |
| Lightweight | |
| Women's Featherweight | |
| Women's Bantamweight | |
