Luke Rockhold Views Joe Pyfer as UFC Title Threat, Dismisses Bo Nickal

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is set to face top-10 contender Joe Pyfer in a wrestling match at RAF 13 this Friday at Watco Center. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Rockhold weighed in on Pyfer's standing in the UFC compared to highly touted prospect Bo Nickal, stating that he views Pyfer as a genuine championship threat while dismissing Nickal's current trajectory.

Rockhold, who has previously criticized Nickal for a condescending attitude, noted that Pyfer's recent momentum makes him far more relevant in the title picture. Pyfer enters the matchup on a four-fight winning streak, most recently earning a second-round TKO over two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. In contrast, while three-division NCAA champion Nickal won his first four UFC fights and recently rebounded with consecutive knockouts over Kyle Daukaus and Rodolfo Vieira, Rockhold does not view him as a title threat at the moment.

Facing a surging contender has provided Rockhold with extra motivation to return to the gym and prepare. The veteran expressed confidence that his extensive experience will allow him to overcome Pyfer. To prepare for the bout, Rockhold trained alongside Khamzat Chimaev, who is set to wrestle Gilbert Burns in a rematch of their UFC 273 scrap, praising Chimaev's elite wrestling and work ethic.