1/7/2012 10:00PST UPDATE: Luke Rockhold knocks Keith Jardine out 4:26 into round #1. Come on bro…who’s next? Tim Kennedy? Jacare rematch? Luke needs to be called the StrikeForce Street Sweeper. BOOM!

Yahoo Sports: 

Rockhold took care of business easily, waiting out the wild style of Jardine to land a huge right and followed it up with 17 more unanswered shots to force the referee to stop the fight at 4:26 of the first round.

The champ was happy to win, but had little interest in calling out Strikeforce’s No. 1 contender Tim Kennedy. Minutes after the victory, Showtime’s Mauro Ranallo asked about Rockhold defending his title against the Strikeforce roster.

“I like fighting and I like getting paid,” Rockhold said then hesitated. “Right now, all the best guys in the world at middleweight are in the UFC. Those are the guys I want. I want to fight the best in the world. I think they should bring over some top contenders. I believe I am one of top guys and I want to take on the best.”

Defending Srikeforce Middleweight World Champ and SC Family member Luke Rockhold facing off against Keith Jardine for the Main Event on SHOwtime Saturday night. It is a FREE PREVIEW weekend for SHOwtime so there is not a reason in the world why you wouldn’t watch at 10pm PST as SC Family Member Luke Rockhold goes on to defend his title and represent! 

SC Family Luke Rockhold doin work son!

Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine Saturday Janruary 7th at 10pm PST Comcast Channel 576.

SC Family and Strikeforce Middleweight World Champ MMA record 8 - 1

SC Family member Luke Rockhold has been an outstanding MMA fighter at 7 and 1 he is getting his chance at the Strike Force Middleweight Championship title. Click here to read Santa Cruz Patch article, come down to Motiv in downtown Santa Cruz to watch the fight or watch tonight on Showtime.

Jacare vs Luke Rockhold

Luke Rockhold takes the win

Article below from MMAWeekly.com

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Damon Martin

SC Family Luke Rockhold fights September 10th

Six straight wins have earned American Kickboxing Academy middleweight Luke Rockhold a title shot against Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza on September 10.

The date for the fight was confirmed toMMAWeekly.com by sources close to the match-up on Sunday. Rockhold also announced the fight via hisTwitter account.

“I feel healthy, I feel ready, and I feel I have all the tools to take his belt. It’s on,” Rockhold wrote.

Rockhold and Souza were rumored to meet on the July 30 fight card featuring Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson, but the bout will now shift to later date.

MMAWeekly.com first reported the Sept. 10 Strikeforce fight card with the announcement of the Josh Thomson vs. Maximo Blanco fight that will also take place on the show.

Rockhold (7-1) will fight for the title after spending more than a year off from the sport dealing with several injuries. Prior to being on the sidelines, Rockhold had won his last six fights in a row, all by first-round stoppage.

Ronald “Jacare” Souza (14-2) returns to action for the first time since defeating Robbie Lawler to defend his title in January. Souza will look to make his second successful title defense when he squares off against Rockhold in September.

While the fight card has been slated for Sept. 10, no venue or location has been announced or secured by Strikeforce officials at this time. More information and fights for the card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Luke Rockhold

Bad Ass through and through..Santa Cruz till the end. Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop is more than proud to have Luke Rockhold as a member of our Family. Currently dominating the Strikeforce Ranks, Luke Rockhold is a force to be reckoned with, not only in MMA but in the water or in the skate park. Believe it. Check his EA Game debut just below as Luke Rockhold is wearing the SC Grunge T-Shirt!

Strikeforce’s Luke Rockhold: I’d love to scrap if Paul Bradley will stand with me

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.