One of the middleweight divisions top contenders Luke Rockhold has signed a new eight fight deal with the UFC.
Rockhold is coming off three big wins in a row at 185lbs inside the Octagon in 2014, TKO’ing Costas Philippou, submitting Tim Boetsch and most recently earning a ‘Performance Of The Night’ bonus for finishing Michael Bisping with a guillotine choke.
That’s left him placed at No.5 in the division and Dana White has confirmed that the former Strikeforce champion will be getting “a big fight” next time out after putting pen to paper on his new contract.
In recent interviews Rockhold has indicated that he’s in training at the moment despite not having a fight currently booked because he wants to be ready to step in if the current No.3 ranked Vitor Belfort has to pull out of his shot at the title against current champion Chris Weidman.
However, the official word is that Rockhold is still one fight away from earning himself a shot at the belt.
So, what is the ‘big fight’ that Rockhold will be getting next then? The bout that would make the most sense for him is a rematch with the current No.2 ranked Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza who he took the Strikeforce 185lb title from back in 2011 via unanimous decision.
However, verbal agreements are already in place for ‘Jacare’ to face the No.6 ranked Yoel Romero at UFC 184 in February.
Unless the UFC changes there mind on that match-up then the most likely route for Rockhold is a fight against the winner of the upcoming Lyoto Machida (No.4) Vs CB Dolloway (No.10) fight which takes place in Brazil in a months time.
