Luke Skyler Rockhold (born October 17, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist signed to the UFC, competing in the Light Heavyweight division. Rockhold formerly competed at Middleweight and he is the former UFC Middleweight Champion. A two-time world champion, Rockhold also won the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. Rockhold defended the title twice and was the last man to hold the belt, before Strikeforce was officially absorbed by the UFC in 2013. Rockhold is also an avid surfer, skateboarder, and a professional model having modeled at the New York Fashion Week and as the new face of Ralph Lauren's "Polo Blue" fragrance.
Rockhold was born on October 17, 1984, in Santa Cruz, California, and hails from an athletic family. Growing up, Luke and his older brother, pro-surfer Matt Rockhold, surfed their local breaks together. His father was a professional basketball player in Europe and his mother was an avid tennis player. Luke started training in judo when he was 6 years old but quit upon turning ten. When he entered the seventh grade, he joined his school's wrestling team and stuck with the sport all through Soquel High School while taking jiu-jitsu classes.