Anatomy Of A Comeback: Luke Rockhold

Come.back |noun|: to return to life or vitality

The life of a fighter can be looked at through so many different lenses. Some might describe it as chaotic. Others might view it as courageous beyond belief. At the end of it all, the essence of a fighter is moulded by one trait; resilience. On August 20th, former middleweight king Luke Rockhold vows to show the world that in due time, history will repeat itself as he looks to capture UFC gold once more.

The come-up:

July 24th, 2007: Luke Rockhold made his professional MMA debut with no amateur experience, submitting Mark Martinez in the first round. However, three months later, he e suffered his first defeat to Tony Rabalkava, evening his record to 1-1.

For most, starting a career at 1-1 might be a fatal shot to one’s confidence. However, Rockhold knew that his potential was unmeasurable and his talent was generational. And little did anyone know, despite losing, that night was the rebirth of an all-time great.

The Strikeforce Takeover:

February 1st, 2008: twenty-three-year-old Rockhold made his strikeforce debut against Josh Neal three months after his first defeat. Josh Neal tapped to strikes. A statement was promised. A statement was delivered. Rockhold’s dominance continued as he racked up five more wins with five finishes to add to his young resume.

It was undeniable that Rockhold was taking over the sport with his ferocious finishes. It was all about picking your poison with him as the wins seemed to be preordained. Therefore, there was no denying that Luke earned his title shot. Shortly after, on September 10th, 2011, Rockhold defeated Jacare Souza to become the undisputed Strikeforce middleweight champion. After that win, the mixed martial arts world was on notice.

The following year, Rockhold successfully defended his title twice against Keith Jardine and Tim Kennedy, resulting in him becoming the greatest middleweight in Strikeforce history. A chapter was concluded, and a new one was about to start as Rockhold shook the martial arts world by announcing his move to the UFC.

UFC Takeover:

May 18th, 2013: You can’t mention Luke’s loss to Belfort without including performance-enhancing drugs. Unquestionably, Rockhold was one of the fighters affected the most by the TRT exemption era. Still, despite losing to an enhanced Belfort, Rockhold did what he does best, come back from adversity.

There’s something to be said about a fighter stumbling whenever nearing the summit yet rising from the darkest valleys of despair to prosper. A Champion is the fitting analogy.

Rockhold returned like an avalanche, steaming through the entire division. Four wins with four finishes secured a title shot at last against undefeated champion Chris Weidman.

December 12th, 2015: UFC 194 went down as one of the biggest, most significant events in the sport’s history. And even though Mcgregor’s performance stole the headlines that night, Rockhold’s performance stole Weidman’s undefeated record, his belt, and a spot at the top three pound-for-pound rankings.

If there’s one thing we learned from Rockhold’s journey is that his most assertive adversary is the man he sees in the mirror.

Without a fall, there is no comeback.

After Luke had the world and everything in it in his palms, it seemed that he was about to reign supreme at middleweight for years. However, in a blink of an eye, it all fell apart. After Rockhold suffered a jaw-dropping defeat to Michael Bisping, he went 1-2. To most, he seemed to be finished. The former champion was down yet not out.

The comeback:

There’s always more to what the eye sees. It’s impossible to fathom the roller coaster of emotions of a fighter. One day, you feel like you’re god’s most powerful creation. A flawed workout later, you start thinking, “is this really for me?” “Am I still any good?” Yet despite all the hardships and pains Rockhold went through, he’s still here for a reason.

Luke Rockhold might still very well be the most complete middleweight in the world. With the spiteful striking arsenal, alongside his suffocating top control, all that is left is for Rockhold to conquer the man in the mirror. And based on Rockhold’s current mindstate, he has done so.

The true-to-life prime of a fighter is when the mind meets the physical abilities. Rockhold reached the summit solely with his physical gifts. So, with him returning with his body and mind at their peak, how can he miss?

Not everyone gets a second chance at life. And oftentimes, one mistake can cost one’s lifetime of work. Luke Rockhold went to hell’s depths and back in the recent string of years. He’s still standing. This Saturday, he’ll be standing with his hand held high, knowing it was all worth it. Will you be a witness?