Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold earned his first win inside the UFC Octagon Wednesday night with a first round body kick knockout over Costas Philippou. It took the UFC Fight Night 35 headliner even less time afterwards to call out not just one but two international UFC stars.
Rockhold and Philippou both swung hard and fast at one another from the get go and it didn't take long for Rockhold to find his range with strikes.
Rockhold opened up a cut above Philippou's right eye with straight punch before unleashing a series of kicks that ultimately ended the bout. The southpaw Rockhold landed a left kick to the head of Philippou before following up with two liver shots that dropped him. Rockhold landed another kick to the body of his grounded and prone opponent before referee Herb Dean could get involved and stop the action.
"I love that liver kick...you've got to set it up. You've got to go high, then go low," Rockhold detailed in his post-fight interview.
In his UFC debut, last May, Rockhold was knocked out by Vitor Belfort with a spinning heel kick. Riding high after his win, Rockhold let it be known that he wants a rematch with "The Phenom," even if he has to beat up Michael Bisping first to get that chance.
"I'm here. I'm not here to be good, I'm here to be great," Rockhold began.
"I want my rematch with Vitor. I would like it here in the States. I'll go through anyone I have to go through to get that, especially Michael Bisping."
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