In what was considered a highly anticipated BKFC debut, Luke Rockhold went toe to toe with fellow UFC veteran, Mike Perry. The April 29 event occurred at Broomfield, Colorado with several other UFC veterans on the main card of the evening. Unfortunately for Luke, the former UFC middleweight champion attained a result that neither he nor his fans had hoped for.
Here comes Luke Rockhold for his #BKFC41 main event bout. pic.twitter.com/RxivSYM4fM
— FITE (@FiteTV) April 30, 2023
Perry proved again tonight that he was made for Bare Knuckle Fighting. In only his third appearance under the banner, Mike found a way to pour the punishment on Luke, who eventually quit inside two rounds. In the first round, ‘Platinum‘ pressed forward showing zero respect for Rockhold’s power. Luke connected with a left hand, however, Perry landed a low blow, giving Rockhold time to recover.
Once the bout resumed, Perry pressed forward but this time Luke clinched. After the separation, the 38-year-old landed a heavy left hand that staggered Mike. Mike being Mike, he answered back with his own left hand.
Luke Rockhold and Mike Perry exchange big punches at the end of the first! #BKFC41 | LIVE on #FITE pic.twitter.com/7RGVl7yei8
— FITE (@FiteTV) April 30, 2023
Fans witnessed Mike coming out aggressive in the 2nd round when he attempted to pressure Luke again. Rockhold again connected with his left hand but Mike retorted back with a right. Perry didn’t seem to give any space to Rockhold this time around. Followed by this, he unloaded a series of body shots on the Santa Cruz native. After a break, Rockhold took out his mouthpiece and sought the referee’s attention.
Mike Perry stops Luke Rockhold pic.twitter.com/CtnQLje5Hd
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) April 30, 2023
Luke pointed to his mouth to perhaps allude to a broken jaw that he may have suffered most likely in the second round. Dan Miragliotta stopped the bout with the end coming in at 1:15 of the second round. This win advances Perry to 3-0 under the BKFC banner, with arguably the biggest win of his career so far against a well-decorated fighter in Luke Rockhold.
Fans react to Luke Rockhold quitting in his BKFC debut
His debut might have not gone as expected from the former UFC middleweight champion, but Luke Rockhold sure did give us an entertaining fight for as long as it lasted. While he had his moments in the highly anticipated main event of the night, it just wasn’t enough for him to secure a victory. Perry, as fans had expected, put the experience of his prior 2 fights under the banner to good use.
Here are some fan reactions on the 2nd round stoppage
Rockhold couldn’t take anymore of Perry’s headbutts to the fists
— M (@inglrsbztrd) April 30, 2023
Man you tell he was fighting the urge to head kick him xD
— Cody Bowden (@CrimsonMK1) April 30, 2023
Amd just like that…Luke Sapp was born
— EyesOnTheInsides (@EInsides) April 30, 2023
Luke stopped Luke
— Jonny Mac (@JonnyPatMac) April 30, 2023
Bisping broke this man
— Scarlett Michanco 👑 (@svmichanco) April 30, 2023
Perry a little too much for Rockhold!🔥💯💪
— thomasrichie315@gmail.com (@thomasrichie315) April 30, 2023
What do you make of the anticlimactic ending to Rockhold’s BKFC debut? Do you think he will return to fight under the banner again? Let us know in the comments down below.