Rockhold: Weidman like a lost puppy
Luke Rockhold: “The man’s lost; he’s like a lost puppy. I feel bad I don’t even want to hurt him anymore. I’m going to make this one quick and painless. It’s going to be over before he knows it.”
Last week it was announced that Luke Rockhold’s first title defense will be a rematch with Chris Weidman. The two both took part in the Unstoppable press conference and Rockhold spoke to the media after. He felt like Weidman wasn’t all there and believes his emotional state will lead to the same outcome in their fight:
I think you’re going to see a different fight, Rockhold said. It’s going to be quick, it’s going to be fast, it’s going to be precise and I’m going to go in there and execute. What? Weidman’s got a broken foot? What is that going to change when he comes back with a healthy foot? His most effective thing in the whole fight was kicks, and he was kicking with both feet. Having a healthy foot isn’t going to help him be a better boxer, it’s not going to help him be a better grappler. I went in there and fought on antibiotics.
Rockhold said he simply doesn’t understand Weidman’s headspace as UFC 199 draws nearer. Seated near former UFC champ Jon Jones, who meets Rockhold’s teammate and UFC light-heavyweight titleholder Daniel Cormier at UFC 197 on April 23, at the UFC press event, Weidman proposed an alliance with Bones to take out the pair of American Kickboxing Academy champions.
That action was a sign of weakness, Rockhold said. One he feels he can see right through and ultimately capitalize when fight night arrives.
Teaming up with him? This is Weidman, who said Jon Jones is bad for the sport and wanted to fight Jon Jones, Rockhold said. Now he’s contradicting himself and saying he wants to team up with Jon Jones. The man’s lost; he’s like a lost puppy. I feel bad I don’t even want to hurt him anymore. I’m going to make this one quick and painless. It’s going to be over before he knows it.