Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold challenges current champion Robert Whittaker for the title in the main event of UFC 221.
Kelvin Gastelum has been making waves about getting a title shot of his own, but Rockhold promises to slap him down if the two ever do meet in the Octagon.
“I know I’ve proven myself,” Rockhold said at a media scrum. “I’ve accomplished things in this sport, whereas little m**gets like Kelvin Gastelum haven’t. I’ve destroyed Chris Weidman, which he got destroyed by Weidman, so it’s like ehh [shrugs]. This kid hasn’t beaten really anybody and done anything in this sport, and for him to run his mouth, it’s pretty funny. It’s laughable. He’ll find out real if he continues his efforts at 185. I’d slap that kid down real quick. Real quick.”
Gastelum was recently critical of Rockhold getting the title shot, since he has only competed once since losing the title at UFC 199.
Rockhold also says that he wanted the fight with Whittaker so the former champion can face the best the division has to offer.
“I wanna fight Whittaker, I want to fight the best. It would’ve been – I’m a realist, and I know that neither [Georges St-Pierre nor Michael Bisping], win or lose, would fight any of us. They’re both gonna try and run off, ride off into the sunset and not fight the fight. I respect Whittaker for stepping up and fighting me. I know he had options to take a lesser opponent, the fans wanted this and this is what it is. He’s a true champion, he’s gonna fight the No. 1 contenders,” says Rockhold.
UFC 221 takes place on Saturday, February 10 from the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia with Robert Whittaker and Luke Rockhold headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
