{"id":270838,"date":"2018-02-23T13:08:30","date_gmt":"2018-02-23T21:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=270838"},"modified":"2018-02-23T13:08:30","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T21:08:30","slug":"luke-rockhold-torture-middleweight-fight-michael-bisping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/luke-rockhold\/luke-rockhold-torture-middleweight-fight-michael-bisping\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Rockhold Would Only ‘Torture Himself’ Again at Middleweight to Fight Michael Bisping"},"content":{"rendered":"

The next move for Luke Rockhold is light heavyweight. It’s something he’s been vocal about even before UFC 211<\/a>, where he suffered a loss to Yoel Romero. He’s since doubled down on the move<\/a> and had already been called out by Alexander Gustafsson<\/a>, which is fight Rockhold is very interested in. Still, some fans doubt his commitment or decision to move up, but the former UFC middleweight champion states that there is only one thing to keep him at 185 and that’s only for one fight: Michael Bisping.<\/p>\n

“I’m not too excited about making that weight cut again. I just don’t feel nearly as strong, powerful, quick. It takes a lot out of me.\u00a0Pretty much [Michael] Bisping is the only reason I would torture myself to get back there. That’s a loss that doesn’t sit well with me. I know the UFC is very interested in that fight and will pursue it on their end. If he doesn’t accept it, there’s no reason for me to stay at 185.\u00a0Mr. [Alexander] Gustafsson has reached out, opened his mouth, and that’s a fight that interests me\u00a0\u2014 very much so. I like that match-up. I like every match-up at 205. There’s a lot of interesting things there and I’m not coming to play around.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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I\u2019m here to handle my business. I\u2019ll you tomorrow #ufc221<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SdSoksdWdi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) February 10, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n