UFC 194's Luke Rockhold: It’s ‘insecurity’ to fly in the perfect training partner

It’s routine for fighters to be quizzed on the latest additions to their training camp. Specialists are often characterized as a secret weapon for an upcoming challenge.

But to UFC middleweight title contender Luke Rockhold, they’re something else.

“I think it’s a bit of insecurity when people go out and seek the perfect training partner,” he told MMAjunkie during a recent media luncheon.

Rockhold (14-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) said he’s got everything he needs to prepare for the biggest fight of his career, a bout against champ Chris Weidman (13-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC 194, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and airs live on pay-per-view.

A longtime student at the famed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., Rockhold said there are so many good fighters walking the halls, he merely needs to reach out and grab them.

It also doesn’t hurt that one, Daniel Cormier, currently holds the UFC light-heavyweight title and is among the best wrestlers in the sport. Another longtime training partner, Cain Velasquez, is a former UFC heavyweight champ and standout wrestler.

Rockhold said the two have been “in and out” of the gym, but he’s gotten in work with both in the weeks before the event.

And even if Cormier and Velasquez don’t completely mirror Weidman, Rockhold said, “There are so many pieces, I’ll make it work. … I’ll make whoever work in my camp to fight whoever I need to fight. I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those guys who flies in all these people and pays a bunch of money. No point.”

Chris Weidman

If Weidman planned to import any talent to prepare for UFC 194, he might look for a striking standout who resembles Rockhold’s style. But as it turns out, the middleweight champ already works with a former kickboxing champion, Stephen Thompson.

In a previous interview, Thompson said he’s helped Weidman prepare for his past four UFC fights.

“I literally have to go through a training camp to get ready for Chris because he’s such a monster,” Thompson said. “He’s not just a good fighter, but just a good dude – just his grind that he puts himself through.

“Other professionals, they get down in the dumps and maybe they don’t go to strength and conditioning. Not this guy. He’s got a job, he’s focused on his goals, and he does what he needs to do to get there. I learned a lot for him.”

Rockhold, however, isn’t impressed with the fighters in Weidman’s camp in New York at Serra-Longo Fight Team. Although he didn’t specifically mention Thompson, he referred to a sparring partner of the champ’s as “some karate kid.”

“I’m going to kick like a man,” Rockhold said. “I’m going to punch like a man, and I’m not going to run away from him.”

Rockhold had brought his longtime boxing coach, Javier Carvajal, to the media luncheon and bemoaned not being able to order lasagna while shedding weight. He spoke at length about the influence of another longtime coach, Javier Mendez, who’d helped him refine his striking power. Under their direction, he said, a foundation for greatness had been set.

“And here we are,” Carvajal chimed in.

“We’re finally here,” Rockhold agreed. “Weidman’s flatfooted ass is going to get tagged.”

For the latest on UFC 194, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.