Rockhold: Belfort’s a joke, has never fought clean
Luke Rockhold: “Vitor Belfort is a joke. I’ll say it and I’ll say it again. The guy hasn’t fought clean once in his whole life. I think his whole career is a joke.:
UFC middleweight Luke Rockhold appeared recently on Submission Radio, so click that play arrow at bottom.
Rockhold recently beat former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, and it is believed he will get the winner of current UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The other fighter at present who could get a shot is Rondaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, who lost to Rockhold in 2011 for the Strikeforce middleweight championship.
I would make most of whatever situation presented itself,” said Rockhold. “If it were Jacare, I wouldn’t mind finishing that businesses that we already had. I don’t think it would be the same as last time. I’ve grown a lot, I was a young kid and I was very unsure of myself at that time, and this is a different time and a different me. I believe I’m the number one contender. I think my performances speak for themselves. I think I went out there and did something to Lyoto that not many people or anybody have done before. So quality of opponents and fashion on finishing fights, I think is worthy. But we’ll see how it plays out. I feel good about it.
If Rockhold could choose, he hopes Weidman beats Belfort, but is game for whatever comes.
Really, I win either way,” he said. “Either way I think it’s a beautiful match up for me on both ends, it’s a big sell. We got Weidman. You got east coast, west coast, you got an all American battle, and you got the true champ. I mean the guy went out there and dominated – this would be his third Brazilian legend in a row. So he would undeniably be the best out there in middleweight for some time.
“And Vitor, then you got bad blood. Then you got that genuine rivalry, and you got me coming for revenge. I love it either way. I’m looking to go out there and prove myself as the best fighter in the world. I think either way I accomplish that. Weidman goes out there and beats Vitor, makes it look easy, I think we all know that story. I come out there and beat Weidman. On top of that, that proves that I’m the best in the world, I’m the better guy, I got caught by a lucky kick, I go out there and get that revenge against Vitor and there’d be nothing sweeter. Nothing sweeter. You know I’m happy; either way it’s a beautiful situation for me. I think Weidman is a better fighter, I think he wins, and truthfully that’s why I like the guy. I’d prefer him to win.
I’d say that I’m going to employ my will on the feet. I’ve got more weapons on the feet (than Weidman). You can’t outwrestle me. Weidman’s biggest strength is his wrestling and his pressure, and I’m not a guy that he can just come in there and pressure and outwrestle and dominate. Not at this size, not at middleweight, not anywhere really that much. I’m in there training with DC and Cain, so I’m used to big wrestlers that try to bully me.
Obviously I feel comfortable on the ground. I think my grappling is second to none and I believe I’m the better striker in that match up. So it’s just controlling and just hitting him on the feet and making him pay for trying to wrestle me.
Weidman’s that champion, he’s a tough, tough guy. I respect him in so many ways. He’s got power, he’s got wrestling, but I’m more than prepared to take that title.
Vitor is a joke. I’ll say it and I’ll say it again. The guy hasn’t fought clean once in his whole life. I think his whole career is a joke. But I’d be more than willing to go out there and finish that one too. That’s my opinion.
