Max Rohskopf
Record: 4-0
Age: 25
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 6’0″
Birthplace: Killbuck, Ohio
Next Fight: Feb. 28 vs. Paulo Silva (6-5) at Titan FC 59 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: You’ll be hard pressed to find a four-fight pro with more hype than [autotag]Max Rohskopf[/autotag]. The North Carolina State University wrestling product has a 100 percent finishing rate. It makes sense considering he trains under BJJ wizard Robert Drysdale at Zenith Jiu-Jitsu in Las Vegas. While one of his biggest problems has been finding fights, Rohskopf has made sure to stay vocal on social media – building his brand during the competition hiatus. His most recent outing came in September – a 61-second victory over “Dana White’s Contender Series” alum Zach Zane at FFC 40.
The Skinny: Rohskopf isn’t your average blue chip prospect. The Ohioan attributes his in-cage success to his grappling – and that’s hard to argue. His submission skills might be the slickest part of his game, which is scary considering his wrestling credentials. His work ethic seems to be pristine, too. Rohskopf wasn’t supposed to be “the next big thing” heading into his wrestling career. He was a blue collar guy who achieved success through working as such. Combining personality with talent and work ethic, Rohskopf seems like a shoe-in for DWCS should he win his next fight. Fighters at 5-0 aren’t typically signed to the UFC, but Rohskopf isn’t a typical fighter. The UFC is coming to Columbus in March – so maybe we’ll see him in the big leagues sooner than expected.
In his own words: “It’s a weird feeling. My whole athletic career, when I was first wrestling, when I first got to college, I wasn’t someone who picked something up fast. I wasn’t really good at wrestling fast. I wasn’t super good in college my first year. I’ve always had a little bit more of an underdog story almost my entire life, just from my upbringing. Now that I’m in a position where people say I’m a ‘blue chip’ or a ‘prodigy’ and all this (expletive), it’s like, ‘I’ve been training this nonstop for 12-13 years straight.’ Through injuries, through a torn labrum, through a broken back, through broken bones. I was in a shoulder sling, getting on the bike for two hours a day because I knew I needed to do something.
“Over the past two years, I’ve really developed myself as an athlete. Now, if I watch something, I can break something down really easily. My fight I.Q. is higher than probably anyone that’s ever been 4-0 in their career. It’s weird with all the hype now, because I never had that. I like it. I like the attention. I like talking. It’s going to be fun, and I’ve always done a little bit better under pressure. …
“I was 1-0 and 2-0 asking FFC to fight UFC vets. I’ve been ready for a while. I’m ready as soon as my manager calls me up like, ‘Hey, you want a short-notice fight in the UFC in three days?’ I can do it. I can always make weight. I’m always in shape, and I’m ready to take it as soon as it happens.
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