Luke Rockhold confirms weight jump

Luke Rockhold has confirmed he plans to make the step up from middleweight to light heavyweight after suffering some disappointing defeats over the past couple of years.

Rockhold landed the UFC middleweight title back in December 2015 after a fourth-round victory over Chris Weidman, with the bout awarded the Fight of the Night accolade.

However, in his first title defence, the American was knocked out in round one by Michael Bisping the following June before bouncing back with a year later with a second-round TKO victory over David Branch.

But, the 34-year-old then lost his next match against Yoel Romero at UFC 221 for the interim middleweight title before then being forced to pull out of a blockbuster rematch with Weidman at UFC 230 due to injury.

Having felt like he was rushing his comeback from the leg injury, Rockhold has now revealed he is making good progress after focusing purely on his recovery and is now ready to step up in weight.

Speaking to Submission Radio, he said: “I think I rushed into the fight at Madison Square Garden.

They really wanted that match-up with Weidman at Madison Square and I liked it a lot, and I think I just made myself believe that I could make it happen.

“It was far too soon for my leg. There’s just so much internal healing in the scar, and the scar is just finally sealing up over the top.

I’m just training every day. I’m lifting, so getting stronger. Getting stronger is the recipe, light heavyweight is the course.

“I’m coming for these guys, man. I’m just not really impressed with what’s going on right now in that division and I’m tired of compromising my body.

“And I’m a better fighter where I fight naturally and bigger and I’m long overdue moving up and I’m done with middleweight. It’s time to move up.”