Rockhold: I want Weidman
“Yoel Romero, he had his opportunity to go show up and earn a title shot and I think he underperformed. I want a guy the fans are going to demand and want.”
New UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has been talking with the UFC about his first title defense, and it comes down to two names.
“We’ve talked and from what I see there’s a couple of fights on the table,” said Rockhold to Damon Martin for FOX Sports. “There’s Yoel Romero and there’s Chris Weidman. I think Chris Weidman, he’s been the longtime reigning champion, I know he’s begging for a shot. He’s been harassing Dana from what I understand since the day after the fight and I’m not opposed to giving him what he wants if he really likes it.
“Yoel Romero, he had his opportunity to go show up and earn a title shot and I think he underperformed. I want a guy the fans are going to demand and want. Unfortunately he couldn’t fight the second and the third round. This is about selling a fight and making money and it’s business. As much as I want to go out and fight whoever, this is a long training camp, it’s a championship training camp and I want to do it for the right fight, the right paycheck and the right time.”
So it appears even though Yoel Romero beat Ronaldo Jacare Souza, it was not in a manner that puts asses in seats, thus making Weidman the more compelling fight.
“100 percent, I’m fine with that,” said Rockhold. “I don’t need extra motivation. Someone’s coming for me from the other side of the world, other side of the country, wherever they’re at — they’re coming to take what I’ve earned, my spot, something I’ve worked for my whole life, it’s more motivation for me.
“I’ve got a lot to prove and I’m out there to reach my potential and I’m far from that. I’m out there to go put on a flawless performance. I’m not happy with my performance against Chris so if we’re going to do it again, I’m going to go out there looking to execute and be perfect next time.”
“I want to make a statement to where he never wants to come back and fight me again. That’s what I’m looking to do every time.”
“These guys want to come fight me, I don’t want to give them hope. I don’t want to give them a chance. I don’t want to make them think for a second that they’re in this fight and the fact that Chris thinks he has that — it’s more motivation for me to out and put a stamp on this next performance and send him back down for good.”
The one fight that Rockhold most wants is Vitor Belfort, who hold a head kick KO win over him.
“You know I want that fight,” said Rockhold. “I think everybody knows I want that fight. That would be great. From what I understand he needs to get out there and do it one more time, he needs to earn his shot and make people demand it.
“As much as I would like it, I understand. We talked about it. When the fans demand that fight, we can make that fight. He can go out there and execute again then I’d love to give him that shot.”