Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold secured a knockout victory over Joe Schilling at Karate Combat 45 in Dubai. The event featured a headline bout between Rockhold and Schilling, marking Rockhold’s first combat sports win since September 2017.
Rockhold, with a record of 16-6 MMA and 0-1 BKFC, aimed to break his losing streak following three consecutive losses in the UFC. His last win was against David Branch at UFC Pittsburgh. He faced Schilling, a former Glory middleweight tournament champion, who returned to action after being knocked out by Tony Johnson at Bellator 229 in October 2019.
Luke Rockhold floors Joe Schilling with a vicious right hand for the finish at Karate Combat 45 😳 #KC45 (🎥 via @karatecombat) pic.twitter.com/2LrKT2iGhU
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 20, 2024
The matchup culminated in a third-round knockout victory for Rockhold. He landed a powerful overhand right that sent Schilling to the canvas, followed by ground and pound to seal the win.
The official result of the bout was Luke Rockhold defeating Joe Schilling via KO in Round 3. Footage of the knockout circulated online, showcasing Rockhold’s clean right hook and subsequent ground and pound.
Clean right hook from Luke Rockhold to finish Schilling, followed by some GNP #KC45 pic.twitter.com/HrcdEW0gT4
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 20, 2024
Post-fight, Rockhold wasted no time in calling out fellow former UFC champion Lyoto Machida. In his interview, he expressed his desire to face Machida in the pit, highlighting the absence of elbows in Karate Combat and taunting Machida about his previous nightmares concerning elbows.
Rockhold’s callout of Machida indicates his readiness to pursue significant matchups and challenges in his comeback to the fighting scene. The potential clash between the two former champions adds intrigue to the future of Karate Combat and the careers of both fighters.
