Rumors often swirl in the world of mixed martial arts, with some becoming legendary while others quietly fade away. One such story that has lingered in the shadows involves a supposed sparring session between former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and current lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev. According to their mutual teammate and commentator Daniel Cormier, the reigning champion allegedly managed to submit Rockhold during a lighthearted gym roll. But does this tale hold any truth?

For years, neither Rockhold nor Makhachev had publicly addressed the claim, leaving fans and pundits to speculate. That changed when the former middleweight king appeared on the JAXXON Podcast. During the show, host Rampage Jackson confronted him with the direct question, “Has Islam Makhachev ever submitted you?” Rockhold’s response was unequivocal, “No.” 

Despite his denial, skepticism filled the room. Rampage and the co-hosts pressed further, with one even suggesting that the California native should FaceTime the Dagestani native to settle the debate once and for all. Rockhold, however, deflected the narrative onto his longtime friend and former American Kickboxing Academy teammate, Daniel Cormier, accusing him of concocting the story. He didn’t mince words, calling ‘DC’ “a liar” and quipping, “Dude, Daniel Cormier is the biggest liar. How do you think he makes good TV? Because he just lies his way through it.”

Despite Rockhold’s irritation with Cormier’s claims, the bond between the duo remains one of the strongest in MMA. Fans often celebrate their camaraderie, as they continue to offer unwavering support and guidance to each other well beyond their competitive days in the Octagon. Hailing from the prestigious AKA gym in San Jose, California, Rockhold, ‘DC’, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev are part of a lineage of elite fighters renowned for pushing each other to new heights during intense sparring sessions.

While Rockhold didn’t definitively prove whether Islam Makhachev had submitted him, he did shift the spotlight with words of admiration for the lightweight champion. Let’s explore what Rockhold had to say about the 155lbs kingpin.

Luke Rockhold reflects on his training sessions with Islam Makhachev

Since making his UFC debut, Islam Makhachev has steadily attracted attention from both fans and analysts, with many dubbing him the “Next Khabib” or “Khabib Nurmagomedov 2.0.” Islam has consistently worked to meet these high expectations, earning the confidence of his first wrestling coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s father. Despite facing one setback early in his UFC career, the Dagestani native has risen to become a dominant force in the lightweight division, maintaining a lengthy winning streak after Khabib’s retirement.

Many now consider Makhachev a more well-rounded fighter than Khabib, who was known for his exceptional ground game. Islam has expanded his skill set beyond Khabib’s grappling-focused style, incorporating refined striking that has earned him widespread praise as a more versatile fighter in the Octagon. Long before his rise to prominence, one of Islam’s biggest supporters, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, predicted just how well-rounded Islam would become in the future.

Reflecting on their sparring sessions, Luke Rockhold shared his thoughts on Makhachev’s striking abilities during an interview with Ag Fight in 2022. “I used to use Islam as one of my sparring partners when I fought [Lyoto] Machida back in the day. No 155-pounder worked with me like this, and he always gave me a tough challenge,” the former middleweight king said. “Khabib, yes, in grappling. But Islam was the better striker. We always said he was Khabib 2.0 because he was a better striker.”

How do you envision a hypothetical matchup between veteran Luke Rockhold and Islam Makhachev? Could the reigning champion overcome a tough competitor like Rockhold? Share your prediction below.