Middleweight champ Luke Rockhold is in a cast for a month after suffering a broken right hand this past Saturday at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine."
He then moves on to rehab, where he anticipates he'll be able to punch things in a few weeks.
"I imagine I'm looking at eight weeks before I'm back in the gym," Rockhold today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
It's an optimistic assessment considering the uncertainty surrounding the return of his teammate, heavyweight Daniel Cormier, who broke his hand this past September and still hasn't signed off on an expected fight in March in the conclusion of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix.
Then again, different brokes for different folks. The realization of an injured hand didn't come until Rockhold (9-1 MMA, 8-0 SF) shook the hand of Keith Jardine (17-10-2 MMA, 0-1-1 SF) moments after he earned a first-round TKO victory over the UFC vet with a flurry of punches.
"I can work on other techniques," Rockhold said. "Healing from broken bones, I've always come back stronger, and that's exactly what I plan on doing for this one."
Rockhold won the middleweight title from Ronadlo "Jacare" Souza on the same show that Cormier broke his hand. Rockhold emerged unscathed after a grueling five-round fight.
This time around, however, he faces a medical suspension of up to six months unless a doctor gives him the OK to compete.
Rockhold's time on the bench should give him some perspective on the state of his division. He made headlines by wondering aloud why Strikeforce's parent company, Zuffa, couldn't export a few UFC middleweights to the Strikeforce to keep him busy as Showtime settles in to a new broadcast deal through 2012 with the smaller promotion.
The reaction to his statement may be more of a disappointment than being forced to sit on the bench.
"People are just writing it off like it's not going to happen," Rockhold said. "I'm still hoping. I'm still asking for it. I'm happy with the good challengers we have in Strikeforce. It's just a matter of those guys stepping up.
"Right now, I think Tim Kennedy is the only guy that really makes sense right now. If 'Jacare' or Robbie (Lawler) could win another one, I think they could be in line. But I just want to fight those guys, the guys that make sense."
Rockhold isn't sure whether Kennedy, who was heavily rumored to have signed with the UFC before the deal between Showtime and Zuffa, will wait to fight him or take another booking as he recovers. But he hopes patience will prevail.
"I'm 100 percent ready for that fight, and that's what I want," Rockhold said.
Of course, that's not entirely true. Eight weeks stand between Rockhold's desire and readiness to actually fight.
But optimism runs deep in the champ.
For the latest on "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine," check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
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