Contender enjoys time Down Under
Luke Rockhold (pictured) arrived on Sydney Harbour yesterday morning without security. Or animosity.
And why?
“There’s nothing to hate Rob Whittaker about,” the American UFC star shrugged. “So nobody’s getting tossed into the harbour today.”
Back in 2014, when Rockhold was last in Sydney for a UFC press tour, things got so heated between he and his opponent Michael Bisping, the outspoken Englishman even threatened to put The Daily Telegraph’s photographer into the drink. Right after Rockhold.
The culmination of an intense feud would eventually see the Californian native beat Bisping in Sydney, then earn the UFC middleweight strap.
A gong the Brit then, in turn, won from him via a shock 2016 knockout.
The story takes another twist next February, at UFC 221 in Perth, when Rockhold returns Down Under to face the division’s newest champ – our own Whittaker.
The American has enjoyed a more relaxed press tour.
On Tuesday, the younger brother of professional surfer Matt Rockhold even caught a few waves off the West Australian coast with retired boxer Danny Green.
Rockhold though had a few words for rising middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum, who claimed it should be him fighting Whittaker at UFC 221.
“That little midget should be fighting for the title?” Rockhold laughed.
“The kid hasn’t accomplished anything yet. He beat up Michael Bisping, who was coming off a loss only two weeks earlier. And before that, he got absolutely smoked by Chris Weidman.
“So c’mon kid, wake up and smell the f ... ing daisies.”