Rockhold: Weidman out in round 2, will go to 205

UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and former champ Chris Weidman appeared recently on Fox Sports Live, with Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole, ahead of their fight in the main event of UFC 199 on June 4, 2016 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

“[Chris] seems a bit lost,’ said Rockhold, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. “I don’t know if you’re seeing the same things I’m seeing but it’s pretty obvious. You never know what day of the month with Chris, if he’s gonna be on his period or not… You never know how this roller coaster is gonna go.”

Weidman didn’t bite.

“Right now I’m feeling okay,” joked Weidman. “I had some cramps during the Unstoppable event so that might have you know, went into something, got a little emotional. But he’s right, I’m not used to losing. I didn’t lose for seven years. I was undefeated. I couldn’t imagine losing. So to lose the belt is different for me and weird and I take it very seriously and I take it personal and I get emotional when I think about it. So I can’t deny what he’s saying.

“Am I lost? No. I’m actually more focused than I’ve ever been in my life right now. You learn more, I think, from adversity than if everything was going smooth. So right now I’m on a path to become a way better fighter than I ever would have been if I would have won that fight. My potential is gonna be reached.”

The ever needling Rockhold then cut Weidman off to say he will reach his potential at 205. Badum tish.

“Oh you’re saying that’s the future you see for me?” replied Weidman amiably. “I’m gonna fight you and I’m gonna be like ‘you know what, 185 is tough. Luke is that good. Luke is so good I just can’t be a champion here. I have to go to 205.’ Is that what you’re doing?”

“He’s trying to trick himself into believing that that was the real Chris Weidman, that he felt everything that I had and I want him to think that… I went in there to win and I lost. There’s no question. Now, was my preparation where it needed to be, was I 100% prepared and was I in a good spot? Not at all.”

Rockhold responded with a story of sparring in front of Weidman’s trainers.

“[Chris’s team] came in, one of their top kickboxers and we sparred their kickboxer, I sparred their kickboxer,” said Rockhold. “And I like to take jabs and I said I sparred their world champion kickboxer right in front of his management, his team. Because I don’t have anything to hide. I will show everything I have. I would love for you to study me and try to understand it and try to beat me…And I sparred him right in front of them and I looked back at them and said two rounds. He goes down in two. And that’s all I said…You call it cocky s*** but it’s the truth. Second round Chris. Second round.”

Weidman remained diplomatic.

“I’m getting my hand raised that night,” he said. “I’m getting my belt back. And I’m gonna give you a hug. Everything’s gonna be good.”

And Rockhold kept digging.

“You’re a good fighter but you’re just not on my level,” he said. “I’m about to lap you. I’ve got a big lead and I’m about to lap you.”