Rockhold, Souza state cases for shots at UFC middleweight title
Middleweight champion Chris Weidman already has a title defense lined up, but two contenders made a case to get the next shot with impressive victories Saturday at UFC on Fox 15 in Newark, N.J.
Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza each scored early submission victories on the Ultimate Fighting Championship card and stated their case to fight for the belt after Vitor Belfort challenges Weidman on May 23.
Rockhold got the final word, controlling former light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida on the ground for the entire first round before finally ending the bout with a rear-naked choke early in the second round of the main event.
“I did my part. Weidman, go do your part,” Rockhold said. “I want to take this across the way. Madison Square Garden. Let’s make history.”
Mixed martial arts events can’t take place in New York, though efforts to change the law are ongoing.
Rockhold said an elbow he landed at the end of the first round help set up the finish.
“I saw him wobble to his corner, and I knew I had him from there,” he said after his fourth straight stoppage victory.
Rockhold entered the bout as the No. 2 contender. Souza was at the top of the rankings, but he lost a chance at a signature win when his original opponent, Yoel Romero, pulled out of the fight last week.
Souza instead drew a matchup with unranked Chris Camozzi and made quick work of him. Camozzi submitted to an armbar at 2:33 of the first round.
“I want to get the shot at the title next,” Souza said after his eighth straight win, including five in the UFC. “It’s my time. I’m coming off five victories. Jacare should have the next shot.”
Two young fighters bolstered their star power with spectacular performances before a network audience.
Reno native Paige VanZant already carried plenty of hype before she dismantled Felice Herrig on Saturday.
If the 21-year-old former model felt pressure from being branded as the next Ronda Rousey because of her marketability and talent, she didn’t show it.
VanZant landed 228 strikes to 39 for Herrig en route to a unanimous decision in a women’s strawweight bout.
“It’s a huge victory for me, and I’m still in shock,” VanZant said after improving to 2-0 in the UFC. “I had God in my corner and an amazing camp. I’m nowhere near my peak, and I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m here for the fun of it, and I’m so thankful.
“I can’t believe I made it through that fight. It only goes up from here.”
Max Holloway, 23, delivered by far the best performance of his career, capped by a third-round submission of Cub Swanson in a featherweight bout.
It was the sixth win in a row for Holloway, who improved to 9-3 in the UFC by beating Swanson in the exchanges before the fight finally went to the ground.
He ended it moments later after securing a guillotine choke.
“I’ve pretty much been living in the gym,” Holloway said. “I’m just happy to see all that hard work pay off.”
Light heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux highlighted the undercard with a first-round knockout of Patrick Cummins. Saint Preux, the brother of former UNLV football player Renan Saint Preux, improved to 6-1 in the UFC.
“I knew the No. 1 thing coming into this fight was to stop his takedowns and throw that uppercut. I knew one of those were going to catch him and drop him,” Saint Preux said. “Pretty much all of my combinations had something to do with an uppercut. The minute I landed it, I knew I hit him pretty clean, so I jumped on him and finished it.”
Beneil Dariush won a unanimous decision over local favorite Jim Miller in a lightweight bout. Gian Villante and Aljamain Starling also picked up victories.
Tim Means, Diego Brandao and Chris Dempsey got wins in untelevised fights.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.
