by John Morgan on Feb 14, 2010 at 9:00 am ET
American Kickboxing Academy fighter Luke Rockhold (6-1 MMA, 5-0 SF) has quickly made a name for himself in Strikeforce’s middleweight division.
Rightfully so. With five submission wins in five Strikeforce outings, Rockhold’s grappling skills have already earned him a solid reputation.
But as Rockhold prepares to take on “The Ultimate Fighter 7″ competitor Paul Bradley (12-1 MMA, 1-0 SF) at “Strikeforce Challengers VI” on Feb. 26 in San Jose, Calif., he has a message for his opponent: Let’s stand and bang.
“I’ll take a choke, but to tell you the truth, I love to scrap if he would stand up with me,” Rockhold recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I just don’t see it happening.”
It’s an odd request from a fighter that shown to be more than capable on the floor. But after defeating noted wrestler Jesse Taylor this past November, Rockhold said he’s tired of preparing for fighters that will look to lay on top of him.
“I’m a little tired right now just because I’ve had two of these wrestling guys that seem like they just want to wrestle you,” Rockhold said. “Training for these guys is no fun. I’m looking forward to someone that’s going to fight me next time.”
If Rockhold seems to hold a bit of disdain for the wrestling game, he doesn’t. A former wrestler himself, Rockhold just prefers a more open style of attack.
But Rockhold knows Bradley is a dangerous foe, and he knows his game will have to be up for the challenger. Of course, training with collegiate champion heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier on a daily basis has him ready for the task.
“This guy is the next step up from Jesse Taylor, wrestling-wise,” Rockhold said. “Iowa State wrestlers are really tough guys – really strong, tenacious, and don’t stop. You’ve got to be more technical, and you’ve got to have the cardio to keep up with them. I plan on doing so.
“Going with Cain and Daniel Cormier is perfect for me for these guys because if I can deal with them in any extent, then what are these guys going to do with me?”
Should Rockhold win, it would certainly be time for Strikeforce to look at him as a serious contender in the middleweight division. This will be Rockhold’s fourth appearance on a developmental card (including one fight in the now-defunct “Young Guns” series), and he’s ready to make the step up to the big show.
“It would be nice to jump up and get off these ‘Challengers Series’ cards, but it’s really not up to me,” Rockhold said. “I think there’s a natural progression, and I think I’m headed toward that. I just want to focus on each fight, and I hope I get there.”
But standing in his way – at least Rockhold hopes he’ll be standing – is Bradley.
“I know I can submit him on the ground, and I’ve got a lot more submissions than a rear-naked choke,” Rockhold said. “But I’ve got tons more to show, and I feel like I can knock this guy out on the feet.”
For complete coverage of “Strikeforce Challengers VI: Prangley vs. Amoussou,” stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
