Skip to content

Luke Rockhold captures middleweight title with absolute smashing of Chris Weidman

Steve Marcus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Luke Rockhold: Impossibly handsome, a Swiss Army Knife of violence, and new UFC middleweight champion.

Rockhold laid waste to Chris Weidman in the co-main event of UFC 194 on Saturday night, wresting the title away from the long-time champion in one of the most violent title seizures in recent memory.

After a very competitive opening frame, Rockhold eventually started to turn the tides, picking the impossibly tough Weidman apart with heavy shots, while a slowing Weidman looked like he was punching through quicksand.

After nearly finishing Weidman with hellacious ground-and-pound to close the third round (a barrage that somehow didn't earn the stoppage), Rockhold continued to bludgeon the bloodied Weidman with vicious punches until referee Herb Dean mercifully waved it off at 3:12 of the fourth round.

It was the greatest performance of Rockhold's career, and he'll likely face Yoel Romero in his first title defense at some point in 2016.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox