Weidman, Rockhold: He can’t stand with me he can’t grapple with me

There is little question about whether it is Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza or Luke Rockhold who gets the winner of Weidman vs. Belfort at UFC 187 on May 23. Although UFC president Dana White declined at the post-fight press conference to name Rockhold as the #1 contender, the blood hadn’t dried at UFC on FOX 15, and amiable trash talk between UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and Rockhold was underway.

“Look, I did my part. Weidman, you go do your part,” said Rockhold in the Octagon, “We’ll take this across the way and make history – Madison Square Garden!”

In a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, Rockhold added detail to the call out, and how he matches up with the champion.

“I’m the best middleweight out here,” said Rockhold. “What can I say? I beat Jacare. I’ve had one hiccup – got caught by a stupid spinning heel kick, that doesn’t tell the story. I’ll beat Vitor any time, any where; give me the rematch, I dare ya.

“I think I can beat Weidman. Me and Weidman have been friends for a while. We’ve known this fight was coming for a long time. I think it’s time.

” I think he is going to go out there and handle his business. I just did mine, and we’ll meet in the middle.”

“It may be sweet to get Vitor, but I wish him nothing. He doesn’t deserve it. I think Chris is the better man, I think he’ll win.”

“Chris – he can’t stand with me, he can’t grapple with me, he’s going to have a rough night. Chris is the man, he’s the champ, he’s a tough dude, but I believe in myself. And I know I can beat him up on the feet, and I don’t think he’s got much for me on the ground.”

Weidman offered a remarkably similar assessment, with the names reversed.

“He is a very well-rounded fighter, but he doesn’t have an expertise in anything,” said Weidman as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMAFighting.com. “I think that’s going to be the problem he has to face with me. I’m a master at wrestling, I’m a master in jiu-jitsu. Striking, I’m an expert in as well. I’m the best at everything. He’s in trouble.”

“It’s all about matchups. He did great against Lyoto Machida, but that’s not me. He’s gonna have to deal with a whole different game plan. A totally different ball game.”

“Amazing performance by Luke Rockhold, but I got May 23 to worry about with Vitor Belfort and [Rockhold] will be the next guy in line. I’m waiting on my throne right now with my belt. Very comfortable.”

“You want a division full of beasts that come up and make big fights. You don’t want bums in your weight class.”

Lastly, in the interview with Helwani, Rockhold explained why he had a bald spot. He took a few hours off to surf, and hit his head on the coral, for the first time ever. He patched it himself with super glue, as stitches would have interfered with training.

And Rockhold related that the subscribes to the old boxing adage that women weaken legs.

“I heard six weeks – abstinent,” said Helwani. “That’s what DC said.”

Rockhold confirmed it.

“Yeah,” he said. “Bad, huh?”

“I’m serious. I don’t mess around in camp. I don’t like distractions. I take my job very seriously, and I know what I want.”