Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold was scheduled to face Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza this weekend at UFC Fight Night 101 in Australia. However the bout was cancelled when Rockhold was forced to pull out with injury.
Speaking to Submission Radio earlier today, the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) fighter has detailed the knee injury which pulled apart the main event in Melbourne and has revealed the timetable for his return.
“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 do everything I can 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.”
Rockhold has fought injured before and previously pulled out of bouts four times previously under the UFC banner. A rematch of their bout in Strikeforce, Rockhold did not seem keen on taking a chance in fighting Souza when he was not feeling one-hundred percent.
“I tried to working around it and if the kick didn’t land flush it really felt like my knee was gonna fall apart. I know I need to show up. This is not the time to go out there and have a half-ass performance. Jacare’s no slouch so I knew I needed my left kick the last time around for Jacare, and I knew I needed it this time. It’s my biggest weapon and not being able to kick is something I dealt with last time. I tried to avoid kicking and certain things you can’t work around leading into a fight.”
The American seemed to be keen on looking to the future and when he would get back and look to work towards reclaiming his UFC Middleweight title.
“Given the time table of what’s going on with my potential recovery and Bisping and Yoel Romero probably not fighting until February or March, I think that’s a good time frame. If I can get in that frame around March that would be perfect for me.”
“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. I’m gonna go straight down the throat. I’m gonna get Jacare, finish my business with Jacare, and make no ifs, ands, or buts who’s the next in line to get that shot, whether it’s Bisping or Yoel.”
With Rockhold seemingly focused on seeing through his plans for a rematch with Souza and with Yoel Romero and Michael Bisping on an inevitable collision course for the title, the structure at the top of the Middleweight division seems laid out with Gegard Mousasi still trying to force his way into the picture after a victory over Uriah Hall last weekend at UFC Fight Night 99.
