Luke Rockhold says that he envisages an early finish in his first title defence versus former champ Chris Weidman which is rumoured for UFC 199.
Speaking at a fan Q&A at London’s o2 Arena ahead of UFC Fight Night 84 the middleweight champion explained why the first fight went in to the fourth round as well as his plans for the rematch.
He said: “It’s a tough task to fight on antibiotics and it just drained me, it wouldn’t let me fight the fight that I’m usually used to.
“I believe that I can go out there and execute early, I don’t think it lasts very long this time.
“I’m going to go out there and cut angles and I’m going to knock him out early, within two rounds I’d say.”
Their first fight at UFC 194 was controversially taken in to the fourth round after the referee, Herb Dean, refused to step in at the end of the third round despite significant ground and pound from the challenger.
“I see me finishing him in the first round and if we’ve got Herb Dean we might last to the second,” Rockhold said.
“I’m looking forward to getting in there and silencing all the doubters.”
Luke Rockhold versus Chris Weidman 2 is yet to be announced but is expected to go down in June prior to UFC 200.
