Paulo Costa decisions Luke Rockhold in bloody brawl, ex-champ retires
Paulo Costa and Luke Rockhold delivered a wild, wild West-style bar brawl within the co-main occasion of UFC 278 Saturday at Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
The lads have been each exhausted and coated with blood — most of it Rockhold’s — because the bout wound to a conclusion. Costa had Rockhold’s again and was going for a rear bare choke.
With about 20 seconds left, Rockhold reversed place after which started rubbing the blood that was on his face into Costa’s face. The gang went wild when a replay was proven on the video boards inside the sector, nevertheless it was only one loopy second in a wild combat.
Costa received by 30-27 scores on all three playing cards in a combat by which the boys simply clubbed one another repeatedly with kicks and punches. Rockhold spent the final half of the combat primarily hanging towards the cage as a result of he was so drained, however he’d throw a kick or a punch every now and then that may damage Costa.
When it was over, Rockhold eliminated his gloves. He embraced UFC broadcast analyst Joe Rogan, who was interviewing him, and bear-hugged him. He kissed Rogan on the highest of his head and left his blood throughout Rogan’s white shirt.
He was emotional as a result of the previous Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champion had determined to retire.
“I can’t do that s*** any extra,” the 37-year-old Rockhold, who hadn’t fought since shedding to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239 in 2019, mentioned to Rogan. “I gave it my all however I’m f***ing outdated.”
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When Rockhold left the cage, his former teammate and shut pal, Daniel Cormier, left the printed sales space and embraced Rockhold. As Rockhold made his method to the locker room, he was greeted by fighters Marlon “Chito” Vera, Jalin Turner, combat supervisor Ali Abdelaziz and lots of others.
