UFC
Luke Rockhold on UFC's Tim Boetsch: He beat the Bellator Champ, let's see if he can beat the Strikeforce Champ
Jul 30, 2012 - 1:15:27 PM Luke Rockhold on UFC's Tim Boetsch: He beat the Bellator Champ, let's see if he can beat the Strikeforce Champ

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold is in a tough spot in the division. After defeating Tim Kennedy on Showtime earlier this month, he's left with very few options within Strikeforce to fight. Because of that, he called out Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza for a rematch of the fight that won him the title.

He understands it's not an easy fight, but with so few viable challengers, Souza represents the biggest and best fight for him inside of Strikeforce right now.

"I've already fought [Jacare] and it's probably not the smartest decision to want to fight him again, but at the same time Jacare, he's the best in the division," Rockhold said in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "From what I feel, he's the most well rounded fighter and he's the toughest guy there. Like I've always said, I want the toughest guys I can get, and if that's all I can get right now, that's what I want."

Rockhold would like to face some challenges from fighters on the UFC's middleweight roster, but he also knows it's not a likely scenario for him. That said, Frank Mir's move over to face Daniel Cormier this fall has opened that door, and Rockhold thinks there's at least one realistic name that he could be matched up against.

"UFC wise, who's out there that they would let go that would actually allow a crossover?" Rockhold questioned. "Cause you know certain guys you know they wouldn't, but there's certain guys that they might."

"Tim Boetsch looked pretty good last weekend. He just beat the Bellator champion, let's see if he can come beat the Strikeforce champion."

Penick's Analysis: In some respects, ushering Boetsch into a Strikeforce bout with Rockhold could make sense, but when Boetsch is trying to prove himself as a valid challenger to the UFC Middleweight Championship, I just don't see him moving over. Boetsch wouldn't have much to gain, and if he defeated Rockhold, he wouldn't want to be stuck in Strikeforce as their champion. A non-title fight could potentially work, but that doesn't do much for Rockhold as the Strikeforce Champion. It's just not the type of fight that necessarily works in the current Strikeforce/Showtime/Zuffa dynamic. For now, Rockhold has to bide his time and win the fights that are available to him in the organization.