You might think, given that Luke Rockhold and Jake Paul seem to agree when it comes how the UFC treats its fighters, that the pair could get along. When Jake Paul Tweeted his disapproval of the “dog sh*t” fight between Rockhold and Paulo Costa at UFC 278 – which earned Fight of the Night honors – Rockhold appeared on The MMA Hour to voice his own response.
It was not forgiving. “I don’t really give relevance to idiots. I’m tired of doing that.
Rockhold to Jake Paul “You Just Don’t F****** Understand What Fighting Is”
I thought the kid had a better head on his shoulders, and I thought he was doing better for the sport [of MMA]. Like you said, it was cool. I’ve seen him stand up for respect for the sport.
But then the hate kind of got to him and made him feel insecure about his hate, and so he tried to put that off on me, because of obviously my cardiovascular system in the altitude.
But motherf*****, you’re doing handicapped fighting. So don’t talk. And you’re finding guys that are smaller than you, everything you’re doing.
I don’t think I really opened my mouth about you. Don’t open your mouth about me. You just don’t f****** understand what fighting is. When you’re thinking about fighting, you’ve got to think about dying.
Boxing is boxing. Putting these f****** puffy little pads on your hands and all you’ve got to worry about their f****** hands. Think about elbows, think about knees, think about grappling, think about kicks, think about f****** every goddamn thing you could think about. Put you in a state of reality, which you’ve lost touch with.”
Luke Rockhold, who retired after UFC 278, leaves the Octagon as a heavily decorated fighter. Rockhold held middleweight titles with both the UFC and Strikeforce, and defeated luminaries including Michael Bisping, Chris Weidman, and Lyoto Machida. He spent most of the UFC 278 fight week openly discussing how the UFC needs to pay its fighters more, a position he and Jake Paul, at one time, appeared to share.
Although Jake Paul is 5-0 in his burgeoning pro boxing career, Luke Rockhold remains unimpressed by the YouTuber.
“The reality of the modern day — people like that, he thinks he’s like a f****** [Muhammad] Ali. Shut the f*** up. Go back in your f****** hole before I f****** smack the s*** out of you.”
When asked if this beef could open the door for Rockhold to fight Paul – who has a habit of boxing UFC retirees – Rockhold flatly refused.
“Not really, no. I’ve got my plans. I don’t need it. I don’t need to give relevance to some f****** dumb kid.” Should Luke Rockhold fight Jake Paul? Let us know in the comments.
