Luke Rockhold might be the key to Daniel Cormier's victory at UFC 182
As Daniel Cormier took to the stage on Wednesday as the first fighter on the dais for the UFC 182 open workouts, the former two-time Olympian started his training in front of the crowd like dozens of athletes before him.
He hit pads and broke a sweat as hundred of fans gathered around the makeshift gym in the middle of the MGM Grand casino floor to watch Cormier in the final hours ahead of his title fight against Jon Jones on Saturday.
Then just before his session finished, top ranked middleweight contender Luke Rockhold took off his shoes and hit the mat still wearing jeans to give the fans a little extra show. Cormier declared that Rockhold was his own personal Jon Jones clone and the former Strikeforce champion even crouched down on one side of the mats just like the reigning UFC light heavyweight king does before each of his fights.
The two mixed it up on the mats for a few moments before Cormier shot in and lifted Rockhold into the air before slamming him down on the ground. The hollow stage rang out like thunder as Rockhold ricocheted off the mats and Cormier then stood over top and yelled 'and the new' as if to signify himself as being declared champion on Saturday night.
It was good fun for the crowd and a great photo opportunity, but Rockhold's place in Cormier's camp might be one of the biggest keys to victory if he defeats Jones on Saturday night.
"Athletically, he's just as good," Cormier told FOX Sports about Rockhold emulating Jones in his training camp.
While no fighter will do the exact kind of things Jones does in the Octagon, nor can just about anybody share his size or reach, Rockhold might just be the best possible substitute. Standing 6'3" tall, Rockhold has almost the same height as the champion and while his reach is still seven inches shorter than Jones, he does have many similar attributes with creative attacks and freakish ability to hurt opponents from the outside or in close.
The list of fighters who helped Cormier for this camp were numerous, but Rockhold's contribution might end up being the difference.
"Luke Rockhold can do just about anything that guy can do. Luke's perfect," Cormier said about his teammate.
Rockhold isn't the only member of American Kickboxing Academy to come to Las Vegas this week to support Cormier in his bid to win the title on Saturday night. Cormier says when he came to town on Sunday at least eight members of his team rolled as one gigantic entourage into the MGM Grand and everybody from Rockhold to UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will be in attendance to watch him face Jones.
The support of his team has been a big inspiration for Cormier leading into this fight and he promises not to let them down.
"My whole gym is here. They're not fighting, they're just here supporting another guy," Cormier said. "We at AKA we want another championship and I'm ready to deliver."
The build up with Jones is virtually over at this point during fight week so anything else the champion might or might not be saying isn't a concern of Cormier's any longer. The past few months worth of comments from Jones mocking Cormier finishing fourth in the Olympics or saying that the top ranked challenger didn't exactly have the body of an athlete will all come to a head on Saturday night.
"He can make fun of my fourth place in the Olympics. He can make fun of my body. He can make fun of everything. At the end of the day on Saturday night he has to stand across the cage from me for 25 minutes. That is the ultimate testing ground," Cormier said. "That is the ultimate opportunity to stand and hold court. I'll be the judge and he'll have to stand in front of me and defend all the things he said."