Will it be business, or will it be personal?
In his first title defense, new UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold and Co. matchmakers will have to choose what they think is the best course of action: the top challenger in undefeated destroyer Yoel Romero, a grudge match with Brazilian heel Vitor Belfort or an immediate rematch with dethroned belt-holder Chris Weidman.
On Friday, Rockhold said in a post on his Instagram account that he is “not opposed” to a rematch with Weidman (h/t Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie).
Earlier this week, Rockhold told Fox Sports that Weidman has been “harassing” UFC officials for a rematch, adding that “from what I see there’s a couple of fights on the table—there’s Yoel Romero and there’s Chris Weidman.”
That must not be Rockhold‘s table.
Right after knocking Weidman out in December at UFC 194, the 31-year-old Rockhold (15-2) stated unequivocally that he wanted “Vitor Belfort on a silver platter” in his first bout as champion.
The challenge was consistent with Rockhold‘s previous fight demands. In 2013 the 38-year-old Belfort (25-11) knocked out Rockhold in the first round of a fight in Brazil. It is Rockhold‘s only loss to date under the UFC banner and first since 2007. However, Belfort has faced heavy scrutiny from Rockhold and many others for alleged PED use for that fight and much of the rest of his recent career.
Now, though, it seems that stance may be softening, perhaps in part because Belfort, while dangerous, is no longer widely considered a title threat. Last May, Weidman brutalized Belfort by first-round TKO at UFC 187.
He gets another shot! Luke Rockhold teases Weidman rematch may be first UFC title defense https://t.co/YQ1FPAHyIl pic.twitter.com/B10RWHtH7u
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 7, 2016
Romero, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous. Though like Belfort he is 38 years old, Romero is fairly new to MMA and appears to be hitting his stride. Also at UFC 194, the former Olympic wrestler held off a game Ronaldo Souza for a split-decision win that ran his pro record to 11-1.
However, Rockhold told Fox Sports that he felt Romero “underperformed” against Souza, and as a result may not be as deserving of a shot as Weidman.
But for that stance to make total sense, one would have to forget that Weidman is coming off a knockout loss to Rockhold in his last fight.
In the official UFC rankings, Weidman is the top contender, Romero is just behind him at No. 2 and Belfort sits two spots behind at No. 4.
It is difficult to discern who Rockhold will face next, as there is a different but compelling case to be made for each of the three potential challengers. However, given that Rockhold has not mentioned Belfort recently, one could guess that he has been talked out of that rematch, at least for the moment, or that other behind-the-scenes factors may have scuttled the matchup.
Belfort has recently been publicly called out for turning down fights. In late December, middleweight Michael Bisping told reporters that Belfort turned down the opportunity to face Anderson Silva in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in London.
Even if Belfort is no longer in this picture, though, Rockhold clearly carries a flame to avenge that loss. It just seems that there may be taller (and perhaps more lucrative) challenges in front of the newly crowned champion. Score-settling may have to wait for another time.
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