Luke Rockhold wants Costa Philippou at FOX 7

Quote :

Luke Rockhold watches Strikeforce's biggest names receive their UFC debut fights and wonders when his number will be called.

The last Strikeforce middleweight champion told MMAFighting.com recently that he has yet to receive his marching orders from the UFC but is back to training after suffering a wrist injury and ready to make his Octagon debut.

In fact, Rockhold has a candidate in mind for his first UFC fight.

"I think Costa Philippou makes the most sense right now," he said. "He's coming off a win, and I think he's a good opponent. Let's get it on at [UFC on FOX 7]."

UFC on FOX 7, which is scheduled for April 20, already features former Strikeforce stars Gilbert Melendez and Daniel Cormier taking on Benson Henderson and Frank Mir, respectively, in high-profile fights. That card takes place at the unofficial home of Strikeforce, the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., which is also the home of the American Kickboxing Academy, where both Rockhold and Cormier, among others, train.

Philippou (12-2, 1 NC) didn't respond to MMAFighting.com's request for a comment, but his manager Lex McMahon called Rockhold's idea "a great fight."

Rockhold (10-1), a winner in his last nine fights, said he will be paying close attention to this weekend's UFC on FX 7 main event fight between Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort, which will have major ramifications on the middleweight division.

"I want Bisping to stay on the up and up so I can knock him out, but I want Belfort to win because that would open a path to Anderson [Silva].

"I want the fight that gets me to Anderson as fast as I can. I believe I can fight him like no one else can. I want that opportunity because I believe I'm the No. 1 contender."

If Belfort wins on Saturday night, that would leave Rockhold and Weidman as only real options left for Silva at 185 pounds right now. Rockhold recognizes this and hopes to get to Silva first.

"I want to fight Silva before Weidman does because I think he might beat him," he said.

In the end, though, Rockhold really likes the idea of debuting in front of the familiar San Jose crowd.

"I want to debut in the Bay Area," he said. "I'm a Bay Area boy. So if anyone wants to step up, that would be great."

Sounds like a nice match to me. Give the winner a contender fight.

Weak call out.

Farmer1906 wrote:

Weak call out.

You just undervalue Costa. Take a good look at the MW lineup and see who is left to fight.

Vitor-Bisping booked.
Hector-Okami booked.
Timmy B just lost.
Weidman out.
Spider out.
Belcher lost.
Munoz was dominated in last fight.

I challenge you find a higher ranked fighter that is available to fight Rockhold that isn't a SF import.

Franklin, belcher, Munoz, Paul Harris, Lombard, and that's just off the top if my head.

Farmer1906 wrote:

Franklin, belcher, Munoz, Paul Harris, Lombard, and that's just off the top if my head.

I don't think you are thinking this thing out my man. Why should Luke fight anyone coming off a loss. Did you even read my post before responding? Let me help you out again. Lombard is fighting Okami. How does that make him available? Belcher, Munoz, Franklin all coming off losses. Please re-read my question and try again.

Over looked hector but the fighters coming off losses are higher ranked still. A win over Franklin means much more than over costa.

How about le?

Farmer1906 wrote:

Over looked hector but the fighters coming off losses are higher ranked still. A win over Franklin means much more than over costa.

How about le?

Le isn't ranked higher then Costa, not anywhere. I love Franklin as much as you but Costa is currently ranked higher everywhere. I think he is ranked higher now then everyone you mentioned. It certainly makes more sense to put him vs Costa on a winning streak then someone like Munoz. Who didn't just lose he was dominated. He failed to land a single strike in the most one sided fight ever.

Weak call out. Go from demanding Silva to wanting a guy not even really top ten yet?

He should be calling our Rockhold imo.

GDPofDRC wrote:

Weak call out. Go from demanding Silva to wanting a guy not even really top ten yet?

I seriously don't see any better option available right now. He can't fight anyone in the top 5 because they are either out or booked.

Farmer1906 wrote:

Weak call out.

+1

Philipoopoo sucks.

GDPofDRC wrote:

He should be calling our Rockhold imo.

Meant Weidman, he said he would be back in the cage in early 2013, they can both be healthy form their injuries. Also, Jake Shields will be off suspension in less than two months.

GDPofDRC wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

He should be calling our Rockhold imo.

Meant Weidman, he said he would be back in the cage in early 2013, they can both be healthy form their injuries. Also, Jake Shields will be off suspension in less than two months.

Jake Shields off suspension? I think that's an awful idea. Weidman if he is ready would be great. But I haven't seen anything that says he will be ready by then.

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

He should be calling our Rockhold imo.

Meant Weidman, he said he would be back in the cage in early 2013, they can both be healthy form their injuries. Also, Jake Shields will be off suspension in less than two months.

Jake Shields off suspension? I think that's an awful idea. Weidman if he is ready would be great. But I haven't seen anything that says he will be ready by then.

Chris says 90% by the end of February and 100% one month after that.

http://www.cagedinsider.com/ufc/chris-weidman-reports-successful-surgery-gives-targeted-return-date/

November 29th, 2012



Top middleweight contender Chris Weidman finally received some good
news after weeks of misfortune, as he reports a successful surgery for a
shoulder injury. Weidman’s bad luck took a turn for the worse when Hurricane Sandy washed away years of memories
from his Long Island house. Then his shoulder injury took him out of a
supposed number one contenders bout with Tim Boestch at UFC 155. The
injury has most likely hindered his rebuilding of his house along with
the income he will lose from not fighting this December.



Hopefully this successful operation has turned Weidman’s luck for the
better, and if the prognosis is as good as he says then he probably has
something to be happy about. Doctor’s have told Weidman that he should
be back to 90% in three months, and back up to 100% in four months. He
hopes to be back in the octagon better than ever in early 2013. While
that may be a bit optimistic Weidman should not have to do too much work
proving himself as a top contender again.

His 2012 fight campaign was one that turned him from prospect to top
five in the division. First, he took a fight against Demian Maia on a
weeks notice where he had to cut substantial weight, but he came out the
victor taking a unanimous decision. Next, he took out top five
middleweight Mark Munoz with devastating elbows in the second round at a
UFC on Fuel TV event back in July. Not one to wait around for the
champion, he agreed to the December bout against Boestch, but now his
teammate Costa Philippou will fill in for him.

Awesome news. Luke vs Chris for title shot is good with me. But if Chris isn't available there is a huge drop off to the next available fighter.
I'd be down with Chris vs Anderson right away as well. Don't like Spider waiting around.
For Chris I'd like Anderson, Vitor after he beats Bisping or Luke.

So if he is back and able to train say in February, he could be in the cage by mid spring potentially.

I think Jake shields is plenty dangerous. GSPp and Hendricks are not exactly scrubs and he survived then tossed my boy Hendo at 185.

GDPofDRC wrote:

So if he is back and able to train say in February, he could be in the cage by mid spring potentially.

I think Jake shields is plenty dangerous. GSPp and Hendricks are not exactly scrubs and he survived then tossed my boy Hendo at 185.

He didn't look very good vs Herman and he tested positive. I don't like how these guys get these matchups coming off suspension. I view marijuana suspensions very different.
The only thing I like about that matchup is Jake was the SF Champ when he left and Luke is the current Champ. That's the only good thing IMO.
But I want to see SF guys against UFC guys out the gate. Not just that but Jake is 0-0 with 1 NC at MW in the UFC and doesn't appear to be close to "the mix" at the moment. I think Luke deserves better then that right now and Jake doesn't deserve the opportunity right now.

Also old SF MW kingpin vs new SF MW kingpin. It quite literally and figurative be the biggest fight in the history of MMA.

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

So if he is back and able to train say in February, he could be in the cage by mid spring potentially.

I think Jake shields is plenty dangerous. GSPp and Hendricks are not exactly scrubs and he survived then tossed my boy Hendo at 185.

Not just that but Jake is 0-0 with 1 NC at MW in the UFC and doesn't appear to be close to "the mix" at the moment. I think Luke deserves better then that right now and Jake doesn't deserve the opportunity right now.

I think you need to look past the letters on the gloves yo. Jake existed before UFC stole him.

GDPofDRC wrote:

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

So if he is back and able to train say in February, he could be in the cage by mid spring potentially.

I think Jake shields is plenty dangerous. GSPp and Hendricks are not exactly scrubs and he survived then tossed my boy Hendo at 185.

Not just that but Jake is 0-0 with 1 NC at MW in the UFC and doesn't appear to be close to "the mix" at the moment. I think Luke deserves better then that right now and Jake doesn't deserve the opportunity right now.

I think you need to look past the letters on the gloves yo. Jake existed before UFC stole him.

I called him a SF fighter and said I didn't want SF vs SF for these new imports. This is the UFC vs SF card. Jake is team SF.