Former UFC middleweight champions, Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold are set to rekindle their nine-year-old rivalry within the GFL (International Struggle League) later this annum — with the promotion confirming each have agreed to a middleweight conflict on a date to be decided of their respective debut outings.
Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight champion akin to Rockhold, introduced his retirement from combined martial arts simply days earlier than inking a take care of the GFL — most just lately struggling a stoppage loss to Eryk Anders at UFC 310 again in December.
As for Rockhold, the Santa Cruz veteran has but to characteristic in combined martial arts since departing the UFC in a call loss to former title chaser, Paulo Costa in a back-and-forth conflict again in 2022 in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Chris Weidman books GFL debut in rematch with Luke Rockhold
And staking his declare for a rematch with Bladwin veteran, Weidman in his first outing with the GFL — Rockhold has been granted his want it appears, with the promotion confirming the re-run between the duo on social media this night.
First assembly within the co-headliner of UFC 194 again in 2015, then-defending middleweight champion, Weidman was stopped with a barrage of floor strikes by challenger, Rockhold in a bloody stoppage defeat, with the latter claiming the 185lbs crown.
Initially scheduled for a right away title rematch at UFC 199, Rockhold as an alternative took on Michael Bisping in one other rematch after Weidman suffered an damage, dropping his championship in a stunning first spherical knockout loss.
Then scheduled to fulfill in one other deliberate re-run at UFC 230, Rockhold was this time pressured from the cardboard via damage, with Weidman as an alternative taking over common-foe, Jacare Souza, struggling a hellacious knockout loss.
