Rockhold reveals that Anderson Silva didn't want to face him at UFC 212

Rockhold accused Anderson of denying the fight. (Photo: Harry How/UFC)

It is becoming more and more complicated to find an opponent to Anderson Silva at UFC 212, an event that will be held in Rio de Janeiro, on June 3rd. After Kelvin Gastelum falling for doping and being removed from the card, one of the organization's replacement options was Luke Rockhold, but, according to the fighter himself, the Brazilian refused to face him.

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“I don’t think he likes the fight. I don't know. They offered me the fight, it would be well before the date when I would be ready, but a fight with Anderson seems cool to go to Rio and do. So I was prepared for that. I think he's looking for another path. I'm not sure what he's doing. I don't know if he's trying for a more comfortable fight. I think he thinks it suits the Kelvin Gastelum for some reason and I think he saw the potential to put him in line for the title”, declared Luke, in an interview with the program 'Submission Radio'

Upset by Anderson's refusal, Rockhold mocked Spider, insinuating that the former middleweight champion likes to choose his opponents. For him, the fighter who wants to be UFC champion should not refuse to face the best in his weight class.

“Who knows if he wants to go back there and fight for the title, if he wants to fight with the guys. You know, this isn't the league of legends. If you want to fight at the top of the UFC where you are ranked, you should fight the best there. And the UFC wanted that, Dana wanted that, everyone wanted that, but Anderson denied it. He made an excuse saying that I come from defeat and he comes from victory. But look at his record in the last five or six fights. And his only victory is questionable,” he concluded.

Luke Rockhold, 32 years old, hasn't fought since June 2016, when he was surprisingly knocked out by Michael Bisping, in a defeat that cost him the middleweight title. He had won the belt one fight before, at UFC 194, with a knockout over Chris Weidman. In Ultimate, he had seven fights, with five wins and two losses. In total, he has 15 positive results and three negative results in his professional record, including winning the now-defunct Strikeforce belt.