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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Luke Rockhold made his second successful Strikeforce Middleweight Title defense on Saturday night, defeating Tim Kennedy by decision after a five round bout. Though he was happy with a win, he wasn't exactly thrilled with how the fight played out, and he credited Kennedy's awkward style for keeping him off his game during the fight.
"It just wasn't my best night and I like to be better every time," Rockhold said at the post-fight press conference (via MMAJunkie.com). "I wanted to finish the fight and I couldn't. He's tough. What can I say?"
"He has an awkward style. You don't know when he's going to wrestle and you don't know when he's going to strike. He throws some weird, funky kicks. Obviously I like to finish fights and I had to stalk him a lot."
Rockhold captured the title last September, defeating Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza by decision, which was not only the first time he had gone to a decision, but the first time he had left the first round. Indeed, his fights with Jacare and Kennedy represent more time than he's spent in the cage in all his other fights combined. Now that he's got the second defense under his belt, he'd like to finish things off with Souza.
"I think the most logical opponent is Jacare," Rockhold said. "I think we have unfinished business, and I think that fight needs closure. I told him I want a sixth round to try and finish that fight."
Penick's Analysis: I doubt anyone will argue with setting up that rematch. Then again, it's not as if there are tons and tons of options at Strikeforce's disposal, either. The fight makes sense as a rematch in and of itself, but when there isn't anyone else clearly lined up, Jacare is obviously at the front of the line. Rockhold didn't have his best fight on Saturday against Kennedy, but he was also clearly the better fighter from start to finish, and he put forth a good effort and showed again that he's got the cardio to work for five rounds despite his history of first round finishes.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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