Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has said recently he would like to face Anderson Silva, but he is currently under contract with Strikeforce and a bout with Silva can not happen at this time.
However, Rockhold said on last night’s episode “Fight Factory” on nuvo TV that he only has two fights left on his Strikeforce contract.
“I have two fights left in my contract but when it comes down to it, I got to beat the best to be the best,” Rockhold said on the reality show. “The way to do that is to have the fight fights in the UFC.”
He is planning on fighting out his current contract and going from there. After his next two fights in Strikeforce, he will become a free agent and could potentially sign with the UFC. Rockhold and his management team realize it’s a risk to play out the current contract, but this is what is best for him at this time.
“There is a short window and you never know what will happen. I want the best.”
Rockhold (10-1) is currently on a nine fight winning streak and holds wins over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Keith Jardine and Tim Kennedy. His next fight in Strikeforce will come in the co-main event of the November 3rd card in Oklahoma City and his opponent will be Lorenz Larkin. He knows that to get the recognition as a top fighter, he needs to be in the UFC
“I want to retire from this sport,” he said. I” don’t want to sit here, waste money and not get the recognition you deserve. The UFC is the way to go. If you want to retire, make that living, be that guy, you got to be there.”
If he is able to finish out his Strikeforce contract with two victories, he could potentially walk into the UFC and get a title shot in his first UFC fight.