Luke Rockhold Calls Out Anderson Silva

Luke Rockhold knows he has to climb back up the middleweight ladder, and he knows just how to do it. 

Rockhold lost his UFC Middleweight championship at UFC 198 in a major upset to longtime foe Michael Bisping. Instead of getting the rubber match he desired, Bisping was booked against veteran Dan Henderson for later this fall. Even though he didn’t get the fight he wanted, Rockhold knows who he wants next. 

“Other than that there’s a guy I’ve always wanted to fight and that’s Anderson Silva. Anderson Silva is still in the division, he’s still obviously relevant. He had the controversial loss to Bisping, and I had my loss to Bisping. And obviously fighting my teammate on short notice, I think he’s still very relevant and it’s a fight that makes a lot of sense and would be a fun one to do,” Rockhold told ESPN’s Five Rounds (via MMA Fighting).

Silva is technically winless in his last five fights, which include a leg break that ended a bout, an overturned win, a close fight with Bisping, a short-notice loss to Cormier, and a shocking loss to Chris Weidman.

Rockhold noted that he considers Bisping’s opponent Dan Henderson a friend, but doesn’t think he should be getting a title shot over him necessarily.

“Technically I don’t think it makes the most sense, of course. It’s Dan. Dan Hendo is a legend, one of the greatest ever and I think they’re just giving him his due respect and giving him a last shot at the one title he’s missed in the sport.I’m in a tough position. don’t understand exactly where the reasoning is behind this match-up but I’m excited for Dan to go at it and try to take it and bring it home,” said Rockhold.

By Fightful Staff