Luke Rockhold Signs New 8-Fight Contract

No. 5-ranked UFC middleweight Luke Rockhold recently ended his trash talk-fueled war with Michael Bisping at November 7’s UFC Fight Night 55 from Sydney, Australia, by becoming the first man to ever submit “The Count” with an impressive second-round guillotine choke.

The victory gave “Rocky” three straight wins in 2014 after he lost his UFC debut to Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 8 in May 2013, and it also set him up for a huge fight. Many thought he was headed for a rematch with No. 2-ranked Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, whom he beat for the Strikeforce middleweight title, but Souza was booked against No. 6 Yoel Romero at February 28’s UFC 184.

That left Rockhold’s next opponent up in the air, but it appears that he’ll have plenty of time to figure it out. News broke on UFC Tonight that Rockhold signed a new 8-fight deal with the promotion and is headed for a “big bout”:

Luke Rockhold has signed a new 8-fight deal and is being promised a “big fight” next.

— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) November 20, 2014

Rockhold will apparently fight at least one more time before he receives his title shot. He was rumored to be facing Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 58 on Dec. 20, but that spot ultimately went to C.B. Dollaway.

If Machida can get past Dollaway as most are predicting him to do, “The Dragon” could be headed for a fight with Rockhold. The only other fight that makes much sense for him would be against the winner of Jacare vs. Romero, but that could create some scheduling difficulties given that it won’t take place for over three months.

Regardless of what transpires in the immediate future, Rockhold has rapidly risen up the ranks this year, proving that he’s on the cusp of stardom in the crowded middleweight division.

In the meantime, he’ll be staying in shape helping his AKA teammate Daniel Cormier prepare for his UFC 182 light heavyweight title fight with Jon Jones, and he’ll of course be available to step in should Vitor Belfort be unable to face Chris Weidman at UFC 184’s main event.

With the Strikeforce belt already in his trophy case, Rockhold has his sights set on the UFC title in 2015. At some point, Rockhold will undoubtedly want his revenge on Belfort, who he’s repeatedly slammed in the media.

But he’ll need to keep winning to face either Weidman or Belfort. Will 2015 be the year that Rockhold stands atop the UFC 185-pound landscape?

Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly for USA TODAY Sports