Former UFC champion Luke Rockhold has fired back at Jake Paul after the YouTube star downplayed his recent bout as a "glorified street fight".
Rockhold, 37, retired from the UFC after losing a hard-fought decision to Paulo Costa last weekend. Paul was not impressed by the technical abilities on display in the fight given both men were considered two of the best in their weight class. The YouTube star wrote on Twitter : "Bruhhhh lol Rockc*** vs Paulo is embarrassing. This a glorified street fight. Both [easy] money."
Rockhold has since labelled Paul an "idiot" whilst talking aim at his "handicapped" boxing fights. "I don't give relevance to idiots, I'm tired of doing that," Rockhold said on The MMA Hour. "I thought the kid had a better head on his shoulders and was doing better for the sport. I've seen him stand up for the sport, but the hate kind of got to him and made him feel insecure. Motherf*****, you're doing handicapped fighting, you're fighting guys that are smaller than you.
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"I don't think I really opened my mouth about [him]. Don't open your mouth about me. You don't f***ing understand what fighting is. When you're thinking about fighting, you got to think about dying. Boxing is boxing.
"Putting these f***ing puffy little pads on your hands and all you got to worry about is your f***ing hands. Think about elbows, think about knees, think about grappling, think about kicks, think about f***ing every God d**n thing we think about. Put you in a state of reality, which you've lost touch with."
Paul has supported UFC fighters by pushing for the promotion to improve the minimum purse, increase the revenue split and provide fighters with long-term healthcare once they retire. The YouTuber - who fights again in October - has faced criticism for the quality of opponents he's faced in boxing having beaten former MMA champions at the end of their careers, such as Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.
Rockhold is free to entertain other opportunities after parting ways with the UFC, but ruled out any chance of fighting Paul in the future. "The reality of the modern day, people like that... he thinks he's like a modern day Muhammad Ali. Go back in your hole before I smack the s*** out of you. There's nothing that fighting him does for me, does everything for me. I don't need to give relevance to some f***ing dumb kid," he added.
