Rockhold backs Pyfer as UFC title threat while dismissing Nickal's middleweight credentials

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has publicly backed Joe Pyfer as a legitimate title threat at 185 pounds, while dismissing Bo Nickal’s chances of reaching the same level — comments made in the lead-up to his grappling bout against Pyfer at RAF 13 on Friday at Watco Center.

“Joe is relevant in my mind right now,” Rockhold told MMA Fighting. “He’s a very tough dude. He’s a threat for the title, which I don’t see Bo at the moment at all.”

The remarks continue a pattern of criticism from Rockhold toward Nickal, whom he has previously called “condescending.” Nickal, a three-division NCAA wrestling champion and one of the most heavily promoted prospects in recent MMA memory, suffered his first professional defeat when Reinier de Ridder stopped him at UFC Des Moines. He has since bounced back with back-to-back knockouts over Kyle Daukaus and Rodolfo Vieira, but Rockhold clearly views Pyfer as operating on a different level.

Pyfer, ranked inside the UFC’s top 10 at middleweight, arrives at RAF 13 on a four-fight winning streak that includes a second-round TKO over two-time champion Israel Adesanya — a result that gives Rockhold genuine motivation to perform.

“This dude, he’s a real threat, he’s got a lot of momentum,” Rockhold said. “A lot of hype. So it’s motivating for me to put on my shoes, get back in the gym, get out of the bar scene, and go have some fun in the gym. Work like a kid, that’s what it’s all about, and go out there and perform and shut this kid down. I know he’s a big tough guy, but I’ve been in the game a long time and I think I can beat him in a lot of ways.”

To sharpen his wrestling ahead of the matchup, Rockhold has trained alongside fellow former middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, who also competes at RAF 13 in a rematch against Gilbert Burns. Chimaev edged Burns in a Fight of the Night performance at UFC 273, and Rockhold was effusive in his praise of the Chechen-Swedish fighter’s preparation habits.

“Khamzat, he’s as tough as they come,” Rockhold said. “That guy’s always on. Doesn’t take any days off. He’s always putting in the work and he’s as tough a wrestler as you’re going to get in MMA, so that’s going to be a tough battle for Gilbert in this one.”

Rockhold, who held the UFC middleweight title from 2015 to 2016, has not competed in the UFC since a 2022 loss to Paulo Costa. The RAF 13 card on Friday represents his return to competitive action in a grappling format.