UFC 172 results and photos: Luke Rockhold taps Tim Boetsch, calls out Belfort and Bisping

BALTIMORE – No one can say Luke Rockhold lacks finishing instincts, particularly when an opponent gives him something to work with.

In the first significant exchange of his fight with Tim Boetsch, Rockhold seized upon a position that ultimately led to a first-round submission finish.

The middleweight bout took place at today’s UFC 172 event at Maryland’s Baltimore Arena. It aired on pay-per-view main card following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Rockhold called out two potential opponents for his next fight: Vitor Belfort, who spoiled his octagon debut with a spinning back-kick, and Michael Bisping, with whom he has “personal business.”

The former Strikeforce champ said whomever he fights next, he wants to earn a shot at the UFC middleweight title.

Boetsch hardly got a chance to get in any offense against Rockhold. After catching a kick and pushing them to the mat, he found himself rolled over the stuck in a reverse triangle. Helpless in the position, Rockhold then attacked his left arm and cranked for a kimura.

While the first attempt was unsuccessful, Rockhold elicited the necessary tapout on his second try. But he may have a toe injury that will keep him from returning too quickly.

“I felt my toe pop out early. It’s not quite Jon Jones, but it’s still pretty messed up,” Rockhold said. “The reverse triangle that I got him in, that’s my bread and butter. Everyone thinks I’m just a striker, but don’t sleep on my submission game. I knew I had the sub, but he’s such a tough guy, he fought it for awhile. I want Vitor, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be fighting for a while, so I’ll take an opportunity to shut Michael Bisping’s mouth next.”

Rockhold (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) now owns back-to-back wins in the UFC since his setback to Belfort, while Boetsch (17-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC) goes back to the drawing board after a split-call over C.B. Dollaway in his previous outing.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 172 results include:

• Luke Rockhold def. Tim Boetsch via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 2:08
• Jim Miller def. Yancy Medeiros via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:18
• Max Holloway def. Andre Fili via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 3:39
• Joseph Benavidez def. Timothy Elliott via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:08
• Takanori Gomi def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Bethe Correia def. Jessamyn Duke via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
• Danny Castillo def. Charlie Brenneman via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:21
• Chris Beal def. Patrick Williams via knockout (flying knee) – Round 2, 1:51

For more on UFC 172, stay stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Steven Marrocco and John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Baltimore.)