Luke Rockhold rubs BLOOD on the face of opponent Paulo Costa

Luke Rockhold was seen rubbing blood on the face of Paulo Costa in his defeat to the Brazilian at UFC 278. 

The American was beaten by the Brazilian in a gripping contest before appearing to confirm that he would not be stepping back into the octagon ever again. 

During the engrossing fight, Rockhold had Costa pinned down on the canvass and threw the bizarre stunt. 

Luke Rockhold rubbed blood on the face of Paulo Costa in an engrossing bout at UFC 278

The commentator for the bout can be heard calling the stunt ‘hilarious’ before describing it as ‘twisted’ and saying that it is ‘so Luke Rockhold’.

Both fighters exchanged heavy blows in the early stages of the fight with fans treated to a vintage bout between two of UFC’s most attractive fighters. 

With blood pouring from his face, Rockhold took the opportunity to pull the stunt. Costa, bizarrely perhaps, did not seem too perturbed as he appeared to grin while lying on the canvass. 

The middleweight Costa capitalised on the tiredness of his opponent as he claimed the win

Rockhold eventually went on to be beaten by Costa as the American tired late into the fight and was unable to land blows. 

Costa’s win was awarded unanimously by the judges. 

Meanwhile, Rockhold appeared to confirm after the bout that he would not be stepping back into the octagon again. 

The American was fighting for the first time in three years and said after the bout that he was too old to be fighting and that now was his time to step away. 

Rockhold appeared to confirm after the fight that he would be retiring from the sport 

‘I’ve been through so much the last few years. Thank you UFC. I cant do this any more. I gave it my all, but I’m old,’ he said. 

Costa praised Rockhold for having a solid ‘chin’ after the fight, saying that those who doubt his ability to ride with the punches underestimate him. 

‘He surprised me with his chin,” Costa said. ‘He got a lot of creative shots on the face, on the chin. People say he doesn’t have a good chin but he does.’