Luke Rockhold has never fought in the UFC before. Yet he’s been given an immediate chance to put his name right with the two best MMA fighters on the planet: Anderson Silva and Jon Jones.
Rockhold’s opponent Saturday night at UFC on FX 8 in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil is Vitor Belfort. And the only two men Belfort has lost to in the last six years are the aforementioned.
Can you believe Rockhold, the last Strikeforce middleweight champion, is actually the favorite? Believe it.
There’s nothing flashy about the 28-year-old from California, which is why he never got hyped up as much as other Strikeforce holdovers like Gilbert Melendez or Daniel Cormier. Rockhold’s two toughest fights, against Tim Kennedy and Ronaldo Souza, were won by decision.
He’s efficient, technical and cerebral. Not sexy. But Rockhold has only lost once, his second pro bout in 2007, and has looked better every time he steps into the cage.
A win Saturday night would put the prospect in a rare stratosphere. Belfort is not looked at as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but his head kick finish of Michael Bisping back in January should have silenced the critics. The 36-year-old’s recent accomplishments have been diminished by some because of his use of testosterone replacement therapy, which is legal in MMA, but cannot be abused.
No one would downgrade Rockhold if he beat an enhanced Belfort, though. It would put his name immediately among the top contenders at 185 pounds. He might even become No. 1 contender.
It’ll take the kind of deliberate, patient strategy that Rockhold displayed against Kennedy and Souza. As long as he stays away from Belfort’s power, he should be fine. He could win.
Rockhold, Silva, Jones. Not a bad list to have your name on.
Ronaldo Souza vs. Chris Camozzi
This is Souza’s chance to prove himself as a top UFC middleweight after he spent the last few years near the top of Strikeforce’s division. “Jacare” has some of the best pure jiu-jitsu in MMA and his striking has improved expontentially. Camozzi is a tough scrapper who has won four straight. He cannot be counted out, but Souza is a massive favorite and likely to be a fixture at 185 for a few years.
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Evan Dunham
There is so much talent in the UFC’s lightweight division and this is yet another fight that will help shake things out. Dos Anjos has been on a role with three straight impressive wins. At 28, he seems to be in his physical prime and he’ll have an immense strength advantage over Dunham, who has come down to Earth after once being considered a top prospect. Dunham has won three of his last four and also has momentum.
Rafael Natal vs. Joao Zeferino
Natal was initially supposed to face Camozzi before Costa Philippou got injured and had to pull out of his fight with Souza. In stepped debuting Zeferino, who has put together a modest 13-4 record in the Brazilian minor leagues. Natal is little more than a mid-level guy at 185 pounds, but he’s a heavy favorite here. Maybe a victory will give him some confidence moving forward.
PRELIMS
Nik Lentz vs. Hacran Dias
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Mike Rio
Gleison Tibau vs. John Cholish
Paulo Thiago vs. Michael Prazeres
Yuri Alcantara vs. Ilarde Santos
Fabio Maldonado vs. Roger Hollett
John Lineker vs. Azamat Gashimov
Jussier Formiga vs. Chris Cariaso
Lucas Martins vs. Jeremy Larsen
Lentz has always had potential provided he relies on his superior wrestling, though Dias is a prospect and tough. That’s an interesting prelim matchup. Cholish, a New Jersey native and Queens resident, has a chance to go 2-1 in the UFC against very tough Tibau. Should be a good fight. Thiago is looking to get off the schneid, Alcantara has potential and Maldonado is always in exciting fights.
PREDICTIONS
Belfort
Souza
Dos Anjos
Natal
Lentz
Trinaldo
Cholish
Thiago
Alcantara
Maldonado
Lineker
Cariaso
Martins
Fight of the Night: Dos Anjos vs. Dunham
Knockout of the Night: Belfort
Submission of the Night: Thiago
mraimondi@nypost.com