Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold is a veteran and one of the few to hold championships in various promotions. The American, who has been part of some splendid matches in his career, never shied away from picking a fight or a sparring session with anyone. Or did he?
Javier Mendez, the AKA Academy founder, and the one to train many UFC champions, revealed a fighter, who Rockhold didn’t want to have a sparring session. He is none other than former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez.
In an interview, the former professional kickboxer said, “Let me tell you something. There is only one time Luke Rockhold ever ran (from a fight). We put him there to spar Cain Velasquez. (And) He didn’t wanna spar Cain… and he goes (like), ‘No, I don’t wanna spar’… And Luke didn’t wanna get in there with Cain.”
The coach further added, “he got in there with Cain. Luke was doing really, really good. But Cain can put so much pressure on him that Luke could get tired. Luke, because he didn’t wanna do it, Luke literally jumped (off) the cage and ran (away).”
Well, one can’t go against Rockhold here. Velasquez is probably the last fighter anyone wants to spar with. The former 2-time heavyweight champ had some glorious moments inside the octagon whether it was his first-round knockout over Brock Lesnar or multiple matches with Junior dos Santos. Unfortunately, his career was filled with injuries and surgeries.
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Apart from Rockhold and Velasquez, the AKA academy also boasts of alumni like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier.
Luke Rockhold gearing up to face Sean Strickland
After months of desperation, Rockhold will finally return to the octagon against Sean Strickland. The expected bout will take place at UFC 268 in November.
Rockhold last fought against the current light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz. The Polish power machine demolished the former via knockout in round 2.
Meanwhile, Strickland is fresh from his recent victory against Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night: Hall vs Strickland. The American overpowered Hall en route to a unanimous decision win in the main event.
Both the fighters have already started trading verbal shots over social media platforms. It will be interesting to see how they build up the fight before the culmination.
Who do you think will have the last laugh?
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The post Coach Mendez Reveals Luke Rockhold Jumped the Cage and Ran Away During a Sparring Session With Cain Velasquez appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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