Rockhold: Move up to 205 pounds is 'imminent'

It's not a matter of if, but when Luke Rockhold will compete at light heavyweight.

The former middleweight champ told the media his cuts to 185 pounds are only getting tougher during Friday's open workouts for UFC 221, and while he expects to hit the divisional mark without incident for Saturday's interim title bout opposite Yoel Romero, the prospect of moving up to 205 grows more real with age.

"It never gets any easier. I'm getting older and my bones are getting thicker and it gets harder to get down to this weight," Rockhold said.

"Having this open workout on a Friday, it's tough. But I feel good. I've got a great team around me. Lockhart and Leith have got my nutrition down to a science. I'm ahead of schedule this time around and I'll be fine, but 205 is imminent."

Rockhold's friend and longtime AKA cohort Daniel Cormier currently calls the light heavyweight division his purview, but with the 38-year-old set to challenge heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in July and call it a career at 40, Rockhold's designs haven't been met with any trepidation.

"DC is moving up to heavyweight. He's not coming back, so I'll be up there soon."