Luke Rockhold does not appear too disheartened by the brutal events that unfolded in his pro boxing debut.
Things did not go to plan for Rockhold in the former UFC and Strikeforce champion’s first foray into the ring.
Headlining Misfits Boxing 22 at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday, Rockhold was viciously knocked out by Darren Till. A left hand in round three folded the American after he had barely survived a number of other shaky moments earlier in the main event.
While the KO resulted in a scary scene as the ex-MMA star was given oxygen, he was soon sharing a drink with his victorious opponent and briefly reflecting on his failed trip across the pond.
Luke Rockhold tells Darren Till ‘it’s all love’ after scary Misfits Boxing 22 result
It didn’t take long for Till to find a home for shots and show that his power could trouble Rockhold. And after the American was saved by the bell in round one, the writing appeared to be on the wall.
The KO shot ultimately came a couple of rounds later and marked the latest in a string of brutal knockout losses for Rockhold since he occupied the UFC’s middleweight throne. With that in mind, many are calling for Rockhold to retire after Misfits Boxing 22.
The 40-year-old did not address his future in his first post-fight statement on social media. Instead, alongside an image of him and Till with beers in hand, he gave a short and sweet assessment of Saturday’s result.
“S— happens,” Rockhold wrote.
The ex-UFC champ also sent a message to ‘The Gorilla’, with whom he had shared significant animosity during fight week.
“It’s all love @darren till2.0.
“All the best to you brother.”
Luke Rockhold has been brutally finished in four of his last six fights
Saturday’s result marked the latest setback in a difficult back end of Rockhold’s illustrious combat sports career.
The Californian’s downfall began at UFC 199 in 2016, where Rockhold was knocked out by Michael Bisping in shocking fashion to lose the middleweight title. Similarly devastating results followed a few years later, with both Yoel Romero and Jan Blachowicz flattening the ex-Strikeforce champ.
Dana White urged Rockhold to retire in 2019 after his loss to Blachowicz, but he continues to fight on six years later. That’s despite the brutal one-off appearance he had in BKFC against Mike Perry, where shattered teeth resulted in the 40-year-old quitting and vowing to never return to bare-knuckle boxing.
Having suffered a frightening fate in the traditional side of the sport, it remains to be seen if Rockhold will return to the ring or follow the advice of those calling for his retirement.
