No. Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold isn’t calling on the end of Conor McGregor personally. He’s referring to the Conor McGregor era, where fights are being put together based on popularity and not on actual fight merit. Where the best don’t fight the best. And only the loudest fight the loudest.
Speaking to MMA Fighting recently, Rockhold went off and gave his two cents on the current state of MMA matchmaking.
“The best fight the best. That’s what made this company what it is and they need to get back to it,” said Rockhold.
Obviously drawing the ire of many hardcore MMA fans, the UFC hasn’t made the fights that make sense recently. The promotion has focused on fights that would draw a lot of financial impact instead.
Luke Rockhold wants the best to fight the best
Robert Whittaker, who put the middleweight division on notice last weekend by stopping top contender Jacare Souza, threw his name into the mix of title contenders. But the reality is, the UFC is leaning towards a bout between the champ Michael Bisping, and returning legend Georges “Rush” St-Pierre.
St-Pierre hasn’t fought in nearly four years, but he is poised to return to the UFC to an immediate title shot. This is what is referred to when we say the “Conor McGregor” era.
Nevertheless, Rockhold is looking forward to a potential matchup with Whittaker also known as “Bobby Knuckles”.
“How about Bobby Knuckles?” Rockhold said. “Boy is looking good. You Aussie’s got something to believe in right now. He’s looking fresh, looking tight, and I think we make a lot of sense right now. The kid wants to get his title shot; there’s a long list of guys in line right now, and I’m looking to get back at it. So I don’t see anything better. I appreciate the competition. I like what the kid’s done, and I want to test him, I want to test myself and get back at it.”
Rockhold is looking for his next opponent, it could be this guy
Rockhold was poised to have a rematch with Jacare Souza, but Whittaker trashed those plans. Now, Rockhold feels that Whittaker is pretty much the only guy left he can fight.
“I’ve been looking for a fight between all these guys. I’m not necessarily calling him out, we’re running out of opponents. Anderson Silva declined to fight. Other guys are out of the mix. Yoel’s waiting for an interim title or the real title. I need to reestablish myself, and he looked good so,” said Rockhold.
Another option for Rockhold s Yoel Romero, but the American feels Romero isn’t interested in taking just any fight and wants a title. Another guy who he feels is cherry picking his opponents.
“Romero wants that interim title, I know that for a fact and he’s not going to fight anybody else so if that comes to be, I’d gladly fight Yoel. That’s one and two. One and two should fight for it, if that’s the case. The champion should fight one, but if one and two are fighting, it should be an interim title, a guarantee that we’re gonna fight for the title next. I’m a fan of it. People want to run their mouths and say what they will about an interim title, but it guarantees you have a title shot. You put yourself in line. If they’re gonna hold everything hostage the way they are with no telling what’s gonna happen with the winners. These guys, if they win a fight, you never know what they’re gonna say. What is GSP gonna do when he wins the title? Is he gonna want to fight Conor McGregor for the middleweight title?”
Rockhold has a point. Should we end the Conor McGregor era and go back to fights that matter? Chime in fight fans.
