Just Rewatched Rockhold vs. Branch, Luke is Probably Gonna Get Destroyed

[Gabe]

I just rewatched this fight yesterday and wow, pretty underwhelming performance for Rockhold. Many people think that Branch just landed one or two clean strikes but he was landing on Luke for the majority of the fight. Rockhold looked to have no answers off his back foot and his head movement was non existent. His striking actually looked worse than it normally does. I know that you can't judge a fighter based on one fight but it's safe to say that if Luke looks like he did in this fight then Romero will knock him out.

If Branch actually had some decent fight IQ and chose not to constantly clinch then he likely would have continued to box Luke up. Rockhold also isn't gonna be able to rely on his grappling early against a fighter as strong as Romero. I don't see Luke weathering some early storm then taking over, I think Yoel is gonna land something crazy and finish him.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

If Yoel connects on him, Luke is going nite-nite.

 

[Kirin]

Not sure where this myth that luke is a great striker came from. He has no hands, and his striking defense is porous and abysmal. He's got a good kicking game and that's about it.
I fully expect the soldier of el to knock him out.

 

[Gabe]

If Yoel connects on him, Luke is going nite-nite.

Romero is gonna connect that's a certainty. He had no trouble finding the chin of Weidman who is just as big as Luke. The question is whether or not Rockhold can stay composed and like you said, Romero hits HARD.

 

[USA!USA!]

If Yoel connects on him, Luke is going nite-nite.

If Bisping can do it, Yoel can!

 

[AminoAcid]

It's an interesting fight. I firmly believe Rockhold is better than what he displayed against Branch.

His chin is suspect, no doubt about it. If he can keep his range and use his length, I think he can decision, or even finish Yoel.


Romero though, just like you said, has the ability to pull something crazy off and finish the fight..


I hope Luke can pull through though - I don't want to see a rematch between Whittaker and Romero.

 

[Deleted member 436105]

People forget Branch is a boxer in addition to his BJJ grappling. Romero isnt

 

[RaZer Cruz]

If Bisping can do it, Yoel can!

If Bisping can, Jacare can! oh wait If Bisping can Weidman can! erm...

 

[Soul On Ice]

Probably

Luke's stand up is pretty goofy and he doesn't seem to react well to getting hit.

I think Yoel's quickness will be too much

 

[Fraz]

Soldier Of Death and Mayhem finishes him within 3 minutes

 

[MescalineDreams]

i wouldn't sleep on luke

If he shows up on his A game he's a beast

You aren't going to get up for David branch as you would for yoel romero for the title

definitely wasn't impressive against Branch but he seems hungry again

I love Romero but I'm also expecting the best version of Rockhold for this one


should be a good fight

 

[Deleted member 436105]

And Luke has only been rocked by an “enhanced” Victor and the most perfect left hook Bisping has ever thrown. He’s taken flush shots from Jacare, Machida, Weidman, and other powerful accurate strikers and never flinched. This narrative that he falls apart anytime someone touches his chin is really false

 

[SeattleFightFan]

underwhelming first round, sure.

but i'm glad you re-watched it - most people only remember him getting tagged, then dropping his hands with his back to the cage and fail miserably at his head movement and get tagged 3 or 4 more times.

but a few things:

1) he recovered from whatever that first punch caused very quickly. those later head shots (with his back to the fence) seemingly didn't hurt him
2) he handled things quite well that first round except that
3) he came out and wrecked him the next round

and when you consider he'd had 15 months off, that may explain some of it.
~~~
it still comes down to can his complete game overcome Romero's power. i think Rockhold eventually gets hit. watch Romero v Kennedy to see what i mean. if Luke does very well and then makes the slightest mistake - and Luke tends to make mistakes - Romero is dangerous as hell, and even though he lost 3.5+ minutes of each of the first two rounds against Kennedy, he hurt Kennedy bad both times. and then of course again in the 3rd after the debacle.

Luke can win. but he has to keep his head in the game (and his hands up) the entire fight.

 

[Blobtheblobfish]

I still think Luke takes this. Weather the storm and then use his grappling to take down Yoel and prob submit him. Even though Yoel is an incredible wrestler, he has been taken down before with ease from people like Brunson.

 

[Roukas]

I just rewatched this fight yesterday and wow, pretty underwhelming performance for Rockhold. Many people think that Branch just landed one or two clean strikes but he was landing on Luke for the majority of the fight. Rockhold looked to have no answers off his back foot and his head movement was non existent. His striking actually looked worse than it normally does. I know that you can't judge a fighter based on one fight but it's safe to say that if Luke looks like he did in this fight then Romero will knock him out.

If Branch actually had some decent fight IQ and chose not to constantly clinch then he likely would have continued to box Luke up. Rockhold also isn't gonna be able to rely on his grappling early against a fighter as strong as Romero. I don't see Luke weathering some early storm then taking over, I think Yoel is gonna land something crazy and finish him.

 

[Übermacht]

Branch has way better boxing than Romero.

 

[bambammccoy]

Romero's boxing is worse than Rockholds both offensively and defensively and won't have the reach or gas tank to pressure Luke and land.

MMAth at its finest right here.

 

[BALLERSTATUSMCG]

luke its going to be swinging for the fences with his leg kicks and running....he'll have to be on his horse the first two rounds

 

[Mage Forthnutt]

Hopefully yoel wins, not only is it always a pleasure to see cuckold getting beat we might get to see his hilarious marching celebration again!

 

[Gabe]

Romero's boxing is worse than Rockholds both offensively and defensively and won't have the reach or gas tank to pressure Luke and land.

MMAth at its finest right here.

Romero doesn't need reach to consistently land. He's outsized by most guys he faces and still connects and puts them away. It's also not like he completely gassed again Whittaker he can still be dangerous in later rounds.