Do you have a chance of beating Borrachinha? Smith looks at Rockhold's potential return to the middleweight division

L. Rockhold plans return to MMA. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Former middleweight champion (up to 83,9kg.), Luke Rockhold declared interest in returning to play in Ultimate against Paulo borrachinha, but there are already those who doubt his return to a high level in MMA. Also an athlete for the organization, Anthony Smith stated that the North American will have problems beating the main names in the category today.

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“He can’t stay awake at work. He falls asleep on the job all the time (irony about Rockhold's knockouts), but it's like he's shit now. And okay, that's a lie. I don't want to put it out like that. I think he's very skilled and super dangerous. He has insane kicks and good knockout power. He's a fantastic top guy. But defensively, he's not good enough to beat anyone worth it," Smith said in an interview with the former fighter's podcast. Michael Bisping.

Retired since 2019, Luke Rockhold rehearses his return to the octagon in the first half of 2022. He even challenged the Brazilian Paulo borrachinha for a confrontation in the Ultimate Octagon.

Former champion of the under-83,9kg division, today led by Israel adesanya, the North American has a career record of 21 fights, with 16 triumphs and five setbacks.