Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold lost the title by first round knockout to Michael Bisping at UFC 199.
According to retired fighter Kenny Florian, the British star laid out the blueprint for other fighters to follow if they want to beat Rockhold.
“If you lost that fight to Michael Bisping, you have to be looking at not the fact that you took him lightly, but the technical errors you made in that fight,” said Florian on the Anik & Florian Podcast. “He’s done this throughout his career and now people are onto it. Michael Bisping has set a blueprint on how to beat Luke Rockhold and he didn’t address the issue. [If I’m Rockhold], I’ve got to keep my hands up. If I am hitting that right hook, I’ve got to pivot or do something to make sure I don’t get hit again because he’s moving straight back and he’s a little bit lazy with that lead right hand which is something I used to do so I know all about that. I think he will address it eventually and it will make him a much better fighter.”
Rockhold recently returned since suffering that defeat at UFC Fight Night Pittsburgh, where he scored a second round submission win over David Branch.
As far as who Florian would like to see Rockhold fight next, it is a man who just fought for the UFC Interim Middleweight Title.
“I think a fight against Yoel Romero. If everything plays out the way it should, let’s say Michael Bisping goes on to defend the belt, he gets that next shot against Whittaker, then (Luke Rockhold) fights someone like Romero. I think that’s something that might make sense,” says Florian.
Romero doesn’t have a fight scheduled at the moment, while Rockhold’s bout against Branch just took place a few days ago.
