Yoel Romero (12-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) may strike a menacing presence, but count Luke Rockhold (16-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) among those who are unimpressed.

At next week’s UFC 221 event in the Australian city of Perth, Rockold was expecting an opportunity to win back the UFC middleweight title he lost to Michael Bisping in 2016. But with current champ Robert Whittaker unexpectedly sidelined, Rockhold instead challenges Yoel Romero for an interim belt in the pay-per-view headliner.

It’s still an intriguing contest. After all, Rockhold is currently No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings while Romero checks in just behind at No. 4. But Rockhold doesn’t necessarily consider the contest as a proving ground. Instead, he sees the matchup as an opportunity to prove he can match Whittaker’s performance against Romero and become the first man in the UFC to down the “Soldier of God.”

“No one’s putting away Romero other than me and Whittaker, so that’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to put him away,” Rockhold said. “I’m going to show what’s up, and then I’m going to take on Whittaker.”

Whittaker’s exact return date is still uncertain, though he recently took to social media to report he was making a quick recovery from a potentially dangerous infection.

Of course, Romero – even at 40 – isn’t exactly an easy opponent, and he boasts a lifetime of wrestling on the world’s highest level before transitioning to MMA. Rockhold sees strength in his opponent but said it doesn’t come close to matching his own.

“I know Yoel believes in himself,” Rockhold said. “I know he is almost overconfident at times. I think he doesn’t really understand where the dangers are I pose to him. I know what he is and what he’s capable of, but I’m going to give this guy more than he can handle. I’m going to shut him down. I’m willing to go deeper than he’ll ever go.

“Some people act the part. Some people talk the part. But to be the part, to go there and to get into those moments, I’ve never been outdone. I’m willing to go deeper and darker than any of these motherf*ckers. Yoel can look it, and he can act it, but I’ll bring it out of him, and I’ll push this thing to a different world that he’s not ready for.”

Stylistically, Romero would certainly be considered the better wrestler, but Rockhold’s grappling chops could provide some issues for his opponent on the canvas. Meanwhile, Rockhold is a more technically sound striker, but Romero’s power is unquestionable, as witnessed by the 10 knockouts he’s earned in 12 career wins.

Rockhold said balancing the equation is simple: He’s better everywhere.

“I don’t know if Yoel thinks he can grapple with me,” Rockhold said. “He’ll be in for a surprise if he really wants to take it there. So whether he wants to strike, and he thinks he’s OK there, I’m going to make him pay there, and I think he falls back to his instincts, and he tries to wrestle. I’m going to make him pay for the wrestling. I’m going to hit scrambles. I’m going to be on top. I’m going to get in positions where he’s never felt.”

Rockhold opened the matchup as an underdog, but the line has since shifted, and he’s currently an ever-so-slight favorite. The fight features unquestionably two of the best middleweights in the world, but Rockhold said the talent discrepancy between the two is vast, and he intends to prove it at UFC 221.

“Mark my words: I’ve done it,” Rockhold said. “I’ll never be outdone. I’m a fighter. I’ve been here, and I’ve proven that over and over and over, and I’m going to go prove it again.”

To hear more from Rockhold, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC 221, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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