Luke Rockhold has taken inspiration from UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s recent bounce-back.
After getting knocked out by Alex Pereira at UFC 281, Adesanya avenged his loss with a brutal finish of “Poatan” to reclaim his title at UFC 287. Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) was finally able to emerge victorious after losing to Pereira three times, including twice in kickboxing.
“Look what Izzy did,” Rockhold told Submission Radio. “Everyone counting him out, everyone doing that, and he stepped forward and did his thing. Anybody who’s a f*cking real motherf*cker who’s gonna step forward and want to prove people wrong and use that as a driving force – other people just sit back behind their channels and talk sh*t and make excuses and chitter chatter and hate on people, and I’m just f*cking sick of it. And I love spitting in those motherf*ckers’ faces. Hock big loogies in all your haters’ faces.”
Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion, lauded Adesanya for proving doubters wrong.
“Yeah, no doubt,” Rockhold said. “Definitely. Izzy ‘s been, you know, I’m sure I inspired Izzy as he was younger, and he’s inspired me. You drive inspiration through everybody. He was a f*cking gangster. He was super gangster.”
He continued, “It was picture f*cking perfect. Good for him.”
Rockhold will look to prove his own doubters wrong when he makes his bare-knuckle boxing debut. He faces Mike Perry in a 185-pound bout at BKFC 41, which takes place April 29 at 1STBANK Center in Denver. The main card will stream on FITE TV with a $49.99 price point.
“I’m getting better, and I’ve got hands, and, like I said, people think I can’t box, and a lot of people think I don’t have a chin,” Rockhold said. “Guess what? I went out there, and I showed that against Paul Costa. I’m gonna show a little bit more this time. I’m gonna show a little more every f*cking time I get out there and just keep silencing motherf*ckers. …
“Mike’s a tough kid. I’m gonna hit him. I’m gonna put him down. He’s gonna hit the floor. Let’s see how many times he can get back up, can get in my face. But I think I finish him.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for BKFC 41.
Luke Rockhold admits ‘f*cking gangster’ Israel Adesanya’s knockout of Alex Pereira inspired him
