Luke Rockhold wants GSP to leave the division.
Last year at UFC 199, Michael Bisping Knocked out Luke Rockhold to claim the UFC Middleweight title. Since then, the division has been somewhat clogged. Despite a long list of elite contenders, Bisping opted to defend his belt against barely-ranked Dan Henderson, before taking a fight with the returning former Welterweight Georges St-Pierre.
In the meantime, Robert Whittaker took on a retinue of killers and earned a Middleweight interim title. At UFC 217, GSP wrested the title from Bisping, and now a once clogged division has become deadlocked. Almost nobody expects St- Pierre to try and defend the Middleweight belt, but until he fights Whittaker or vacates, no Middleweight has a path to the title.
Most outspoken of the frustrated Middleweights is the former champion Luke Rockhold, who told Submission Radio that he doesn’t believe St-Pierre will fight Whittaker and that the UFC should not allow St-Pierre to drop down and face Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley without stripping him of the title.
“Unfortunately it sounds like we have a hold up and it’s gonna take some time to iron out what’s next. . . I know [St-Pierre] is contractually obligated to defend his belt but as we all heard on the mic, he’s backtracking and he’s trying to find his way out, seemingly. . .
“I think it’s ridiculous if they were to let him hold onto it and not pull that. Let him relinquish that and go down to fight Tyron like it sounds like he wants to do. I think they should just get back to what made this company what it is. You go too far down the wrong trail and there’s no turning back. You go too far into Conor McGregor land and you get that fight going and the whole thing is a mess. They need to just put the best against the best in each division and stop jumping around.”
Despite the incredible upset loss to Bisping, Luke Rockhold believes he is the best in the world and he’d like to prove it against the man he calls “the real champion” at 185 pounds, Robert Whittaker, even if he has to do it in Whittaker’s own backyard.
“I’ve talked about [UFC Perth] with the UFC and it is potentially on the table but I’m not going out there to fight for the interim title. GSP needs to figure it out. He needs to move on, get out, and really, Robert Whittaker is the real champion. Bisping lost that title, in my eyes, a long time ago when he decided to fight guys outside the top ten, and welterweights for that matter. He earned it. He got the title but Whittaker’s been the man for the last year. He’s fought Jacare, he’s fought Yoel, he’s fought the top contenders and that’s what it takes to be the champion. In my eyes, Whittaker’s the champ. So I’ll be ready to go to Perth, it’s just a matter of how this whole thing plays out.
“I know Whittaker obviously wants that fight [with St-Pierre], as he should, but I don’t think he’s gonna get it. I’m more than willing to move on and take him on in Perth. I love Australia and the kids a stud and I’d be honored to fight him. “
UFC 221 is scheduled to take place in Perth, Australia and Whittaker is the natural headliner there. Of course that would probably necessitate St Pierre relinquishing his belt. What is the point of an interim belt if the interim champion doesn’t compete with the other champion? Some have even speculated that the UFC will let GSP move down to Welterweight holding the Middleweight belt as a promotional token. Rockhold’s not happy with that option:
“I think it’s ridiculous if they were to let him hold onto it and not pull that. Let him relinquish that and go down to fight Tyron like it sounds like he wants to do. I think they should just get back to what made this company what it is. You go too far down the wrong trail and there’s no turning back. You go too far into Conor McGregor land and you get that fight going and the whole thing is a mess. They need to just put the best against the best in each division and stop jumping around.”
Luke Rockhold is voicing concerns echoed by many fans as the UFC approaches the fine line between legitimate competitive organization and promotional circus.
