Luke Rockhold: I Never Saw Fabricio Werdum As Champion

UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold tests his mettle tonight (Saturday June 4, 2016) in his first attempted title defense against Michael Bisping. The two mouthy middleweights have shared an eventful rivalry, fraught with confrontation and heated arguments leading up to their second fight. But ‘Rocky’ has beef with plenty of other fighters besides ‘The Count.’

As well as sharing a feud with Bisping, Rockhold harbours bad feelings towards former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum. ‘Rocky’ and ‘Vai Cavalo’ talked some serious trash towards each other before Cain Velasquez, also of American Kickboxing Academy, fought the Brazilian at UFC 188. Many believed their differences were somewhat theatrical, given his team mate was about to fight Werdum, but they continue to this day.

Speaking during the UFC 199 open workouts this week, middleweight boss Luke Rockhold went off on Fabricio Werdum once again. MMAFighting.com had the scoop:

“I thought he was a joke,” Rockhold said. “I thought he was making [off] with something he stole. That’s how I saw Werdum.”

“He was parading around with a belt like he stole something with that stupid face he always kept,” Rockhold said. “How do you keep that face? How do you walk into the cage with that face on? Be a champion and carry yourself like so. I’ve never been a fan of Fabricio and I didn’t think he was the true champion. That’s my opinion on that.”

Werdum eventually fell to the one punch power of Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil. A rematch with Cain Velasquez was originally meant for his first fight as champion, but when ‘CV’ pulled out injured, ‘Vai Cavalo’ refused to face Miocic as he ‘hadn’t trained for’ the Croatian.

Funny how things turn out isn’t it? Werdum is now booked in to face Ben Rothwell at UFC 203, where Miocic will face Alistair Overeem in the main event.