What’s Next for the Former UFC Champion Luke Rockhold?

Luke Rockhold said it was time to put his gloves away after suffering his third consecutive defeat in August of last year.

After losing by unanimous decision to Paulo Costa in the Fight of the Night proverbial battle at UFC 278, Rockhold (16-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) announced his retirement. Rockhold’s first match in more than three years.

However, only months after announcing his retirement, the 38-year-old Californian started posting on social media with indications of a prospective comeback. And the former middleweight champion of the UFC and Strikeforce announced that the UFC had freed him from his contract.

Rockhold is now free to sign with anybody he wants, and there are several MMA opportunities and outlets like BKFC and professional boxing. So what should we expect from Rockhold after that? Like always, bet way will be the place to make all those boxing and MMA wagers.

Now, the dazzling genius is revitalized to try his skill in a whole new context. Rockhold says he relocated back to California from Florida, and he’s begun training after a recent ankle surgery.

“I need a new setting,” Rockhold said. “I need a new challenge. … You get burned out in the game when you’ve done so much, and you need new obstacles.”

The former UFC middleweight champion has not specified where he will continue his MMA career. He has a relationship with the president of Bellator MMA, Scott Coker, and is also considering options with PFL and One Championship. Rockhold has also mentioned that he may transition into boxing. Worth noting, MMA and boxing rank among the top most followed and bet on sports on Betway.

Rockhold won the UFC middleweight championship in 2015 by defeating Chris Weidman but later lost the belt to Michael Bisping in 2016. He went through a rough patch, with a 1-3 record from 2016 to 2022. He has expressed his dissatisfaction with the UFC, but in August 2022, UFC President Dana White praised Rockhold’s last fight against Costa. Rockhold was also a top fighter in Strikeforce, where he held the 185-pound title from 2011 to 2012. He has notable victories over Weidman, Bisping, Lyoto Machida, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

Rockhold told TMZ Sports earlier on Monday that he’d welcome a bout against Jake Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer who inked a multi-fight contract with PFL on Jan. 5.

“You’re a middleweight. If you want to fight a middleweight, I got hands. We can do anything we want. I really don’t care. I’d beat that guy in my sleep.”

On The MMA Hour, Rockhold stated that he would not rule out a return to the UFC, but for the time being, he is looking for challenges that excite him.

Rockhold stated that his primary goal is to participate in boxing matches against either Logan or Jake Paul. However, he hinted that he may return to MMA soon, mentioning to Inside Fighting that he still has the drive to compete in the cage.

Rockhold stated that he took a break from the UFC to rest his legs and recover from ankle surgeries. He mentioned that he feels grateful to have been given the freedom to explore other options, such as boxing, by the UFC, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity. Who knows what the immediate future holds for the former champion? Will he re-establish himself on the cage? Watch out for any of his upcoming bouts, and be sure to bet with Betway.