Luke Rockhold (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Luke Rockhold won’t fight Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza next weekend as originally planned, but the middleweight contender is hoping to face the middleweight contender in early 2017.

Souza and Rockhold were supposed to square off in the main event of UFC Fight Night 101, but a knee injured forced the latter to withdraw. The fight could have determined who would face champion Michael Bisping next, but since the fight was cancelled, Yoel Romero stopped Chris Weidman at UFC 205. Now Romero is expected to fight Bisping next spring.

Recently Rockhold appeared on Submission Radio, and the former champ relayed the following about his next bout (quote via MMA Fighting.com):

“Given the time table of what’s going on with my potential recovery and Bisping and Yoel Romero probably not fighting until February/March, I think that’s a good time frame. If I can get in that frame around March, that would be perfect for me.”

“I have a lot of respect for (Gegard) Mousasi but I want to get right back at it. I want my title shot…Jacare’s the most clear cut way back to the title. I’m not looking to fight another guy and have there be a question mark about who gets the next shot. I’m gonna go straight down the throat. I’m gonna get Jacare, finish my business with Jacare, and make no ifs, ands, or buts who’s the next in line to get that shot, whether it’s Bisping or Yoel.”

Rockhold and Souza fought under the Strikeforce banner back in 2011 and the latter lost the fight via unanimous decision.