Luke Rockhold Looking At A March Return

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold suffered a knee injury recently, one that forced him out of a UFC Fight Night 101 main event against Ronaldo Souza.

"A small bundle pulled off the ACL at the attachment point. I'm trying to go through the natural process of healing which they say there's a high potential of it reconnecting itself. I'm trying to avoid surgery. That's key for me because any time you go into ACL — orthoscopic or reconstruction — it's a good 12 months out, pretty much. I've been told potentially in a couple of months it could reattach itself and then I can start kicking again. It's weird because it feels good in so many ways but the moment I kick it feels like my knee is going fall apart – if I'm kicking at full power,” said Rockhold on Submission Radio.

Rockhold, who is now healing from that knee injury, plans on making a return to the octagon by March of next year. Upon returning, Rockhold wants a clear path to a UFC Middleweight Title shot, whether it go through Souza or Gegard Mousasi.

"If I have a guaranteed title shot to fight Mousasi then I'd love to, but I'm not looking to fight the next guy – fight Mousai and then have Jacare try to jump me for that shot. I have a lot of respect for Mousasi, but I want to get right back at it. I want my title shot. Jacare's the most clear cut way back to the title. I'm not looking to fight another guy and have there be a question mark about who gets the next shot,” said Rockhold.

Rockhold has pulled out of four fights during his UFC tenure, which includes a run as UFC Middleweight Champion.