Rockhold demolishes Weidman to win UFC middleweight title

MANILA, Philippines – Luke Rockhold made sure to walk out of the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with the world middleweight belt around his waist by stopping the highly-favored Chris Weidman in the co-headliner of the UFC 194 pay-per-view event on Sunday, December 13 (PH Time) 

Rockhold dethroned Weidman with vicious blows on the mat to compel referee Herb Dean to halt the fight at the 3:12 mark of the fourth round to become the seventh middleweight titleholder in UFC history. 

With the dominating victory over Weidman, Rockhold moves up with a 15-2 standing and extends his winning streak to 5 since losing his first Octagon appearance against Vitor Belfort in May 2013.

On the other hand, Weidman tastes his first career defeat and downgrades his professional record to 13-1. 

After several back-and-forth shifts of momentum in the first and second rounds, Rockhold turned the championship clash in his favor in the third frame, where he countered an ill-conceived wheel kick from Weidman with a takedown, giving him the opening to move to his opponent’s back to set his hooks before eventually advancing to full mount. 

From that overruling position, the 31-year-old southpaw from San Jose, California poured down a savage ground-and-pound with sharp elbows and concussive punches that created a gruesome gash over Weidman’s left eye.

“I knew if I got on top control, I believe I’m operating on a different level than everyone else,” Rockhold said in the post-fight interview. 

Despite the relentless punishment that Rockhold was inflicting on Weidman, the referee did not step in to wave it off, letting the bout to reach the fourth stanza. 

Rockhold picked up where he left off in round four and immediately converted another takedown before placing himself in an advantageous position to clobber punches for the stoppage. 

“It’s indescribable. Are you kidding me? I can’t believe this is real right now,” Rockhold stated. – Rappler.com