We have a new middleweight champion of the world and his name is Luke Rockhold. Rockhold was able to inflict more damage than anyone ever has to Chris Weidman at UFC 194 and took the belt.
Chris Weidman had never lost. He had never even been taken down. But he was taken apart on the ground by new UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.
As always, Twitter reacted.
Mike Bohn@MikeBohnMMA
The top three fights on UFC 194 are truly insane. Aldo, McGregor, Weidman, Rockhold, Souza, Romero are combined 102-9 in MMA (37-1 in UFC).
Case Keefer@casekeefer
•Luke Rockhold walks out to DMX’s “The Rain”.
•Chris Weidman, who has one of the best consistent entrances in the UFC, out to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”.
Nick Kalikas@FightOdds
#UFC Middleweight Title Closing Odds: @ChrisWeidmanUFC (-145) vs. @LukeRockhold (+135)
Mike Chiappetta@MikeChiappetta
This is the part where I point out that if Rockhold wins, the UFC champs from heavyweight to welterweight would all be Strikeforce alumni.
The Spartan @EliasTheodorou
I think Rockhold just got a cold, hard dose of the reality of Weidman
?Matt Brown @IamTheImmortal
Standup???? Wtf?!
Marcelino Evil @KCBanditMMA
Awful. I hate that standup
Ian McCall @Unclecreepymma
Not gonna lie … Really impressed with these bigger guys.
Michael Carroll @MJCflipdascript
Weidman just spent more time in bottom position than he had in his previous UFC fights combined (3 seconds).
Brett Okamoto@bokamotoESPN
Despite a round-best, bone crushing body kick by Luke Rockhold, first round goes to Chris Weidman, 10-9.
TJ De Santis@TJDeSantis
Rockhold’s kicks fly like his leg is weightless. It lands like it weighs 300 pounds.
Paul Lazenby@MaulerMMA
Rockhold taking control of this fight. Weidman starting to look stymied and frustrated.
Jan Blachowicz@JanBlachowicz
That low and middle kicks are making great job. Rockhold is taking the lead.
Derek Brunson @DerekBrunson
Tired!!! gas must be $10 a gallon in Vegas!
Brian Stann@BrianStann
Even blocking body kicks hurt, still steals some wind. Very effective adjustment by Rockhold
?Sarah Kaufman @mmasarah
Both guys looking pretty tired by the end of rd 2. Rockhold utilized some nice kicks and landed his hands to make it now 1-1
Tim Kennedy @TimKennedyMMA
These are the fights that make me love this sport. Clean hardworking athletes with corners that care about the sport #UFC194 #aka #longosera
?Brett Okamoto@bokamotoESPN
Rockhold putting together the best round of his career. Beautiful to watch.
Scott jorgensen@Scottjorgensen
Rockhold was having none of the spinny shit
Jeremy Botter@jeremybotter
Oh my god. Weidman survived the round. I have no idea how.
Megan Olivi@MeganOlivi
Holy shit
Derek Brunson @DerekBrunson
What the f***
Chris Leben@cripplerufc
50 unanswered punches?? Herb was waiting for a miracle
Aaron Riley @aaronrileymma
Glad Herb let that keep going.
Big Ben Rothwell@RothwellFighter
A world champion having know idea how to get out of mount, blows my mind…
Sarah Kaufman @mmasarah
Rockhold gives everything and gets the tko finish in rd 4. Great work!
Mike Ciesnolevicz@MikeCies
Damn! One mistake by Weidman with that spinning kick totally changed the tide of the fight. I had him up
Derek Brunson @DerekBrunson
Rockhold had like 3 title defenses in this fight due to the lack of stoppages!
#UFC194 @ufc
#AndNew UFC middleweight champion of the world @LukeRockhold! #UFC194 BTYB @ToyoTires
Chamatkar Sandhu @SandhuMMA
Rockhold: I can’t even believe this is real right now. Are you kidding me?
Corey Anderson UFC @CoreyA_MMA
Rhonda, Paige, and now Weidman… When McGregor loses the UFC and Reebok gonna have to redo their whole face of the organization.
SportsCenterVerified account @SportsCenter
“As soon as Rockhold found out he was the better grappler, he pushed the grappling & worked to mount & went for the KO.” -@GilbertMelendez?
Ben Fowlkes @benfowlkesMMA
Rockhold says he had a staph infection during camp. Is it weird that our sport so frequently includes post-fight admissions like that??
The Spartan @EliasTheodorou
Weidman’s dad gives zero fucks.
Jordan Breen @jordanbreen
Luke Rockhold is gonna kick Yoel Romero’s entrails out through his backside.
MMA History Today @MMAHistoryToday
AKA has DC as Champ
Rockhold as Champ
And Cain Velasquez & Khabib Nurmagomdeov waiting in the wings
An All Star gym right there
Mike Chiappetta MMA @MikeChiappetta
Current UFC champs:
HW: Fabricio Werdum, Strikeforce alumni
205: Daniel Cormier, SF alum
185: Luke Rockhold, SF alum
170: Lawler, SF alum
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn
Rockhold limping terribly as he walks by press row. Weidman’s face battered, trying to fight off tears. What a tough fight.
Kenny Florian @kennyflorian
Rockhold wanted it more, period.
