In one of many more strange scenes within the historical past of an already unconventional sport, Luke Rockhold rubbed his bloody visage into the face of Paulo Costa within the waning moments of their UFC 278 matchup.
In the course of the dwell broadcast, the applause of the group drowned out the UFC commentary crew whereas Rockhold was smearing his blood onto Costa. After the struggle ended, commentator Joe Rogan described the scene through the slow-motion replay, “He (Rockhold) acquired on prime after which rubbed all his nostril blood throughout Paulo Costa’s face. I imply, have a look at that. That’s simply hilarious. It’s so twisted and that’s so Luke Rockhold.”
Not like Rogan, who was exterior the splash zone at cageside, Costa didn’t appear to see the humor in Rockhold purposely showering him in blood.
A perplexed Costa described the second as “disgusting” earlier than providing his ideas on why Rockhold would do such a factor, “I don’t know why Luke did that,” Costa mentioned through the UFC 278 post-fight press convention. “Possibly he was so pissed off and indignant as a result of he was dropping the struggle. However I took a really lengthy bathe after the struggle.”
On Wednesday, Rockhold defined his reasoning.
“That’s simply ‘f—ok you,’ mentioned the previous UFC middleweight champion throughout his look on The MMA Hour.
“You understand, when somebody’s level combating and somebody’s going for the kill. That’s the distinction. I felt like I used to be there to kill or be killed and he was on the market attempting to get by,” added Rockhold.
Costa won the fight by decision, however there have been moments Rockhold felt he may have secured a end, however his rush to get the stoppage precipitated him to make important errors.
“I rushed it,” mentioned Rockhold. “I ought to have had that mount place, its would have been over. You know the way that world works. I simply rushed into that one, fell behind, stored placing myself behind and couldn’t decide myself again up. I simply felt like I used to be in there with a lesser man and I needed to point out him, ‘you’re my bitch.’
Rockhold introduced his retirement within the cage after the struggle. On Tuesday, MMA Preventing confirmed Rockhold’s retirement with UFC officers.
