Frank Trigg says Luke Rockhold has learned something other fighters should learn.
At UFC Fight Night: Pittsburgh, former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold was victorious in his main event bout against David Branch. Before the fight and immediately after the fight, Rockhold has said some inflammatory things about the main event of UFC 217 which is a UFC Middleweight championship bout between Michael Bisping and George St. Pierre.
On Fightful MMA's podcast Holy Smokes, Frank Trigg was asked about the UFC championship picture at Middleweight. He said Rockhold has the right to complain about St-Pierre fighting in Rockhold's division.
"GSP coming back at Welterweight, He absolutely deserves a title shot. He wants to come back in at Welterweight 'yeah, 100 percent.' He's coming back at Middleweight, a weight he's never fought at. He's never been in that weight class ever," said Trigg. "It's GSP though, he's a big pay-per-view draw, he's a huge number guy. This a big deal for the UFC to make some money," he continued.
Trigg called St-Pierre versus Bisping a "gimmick fight." He also said most fighters would be unranked if they went up a weight class in which they have never fought. As far as Rockhold's comments on St-Pierre versus Bisping, Trigg admitted Rockhold was onto something.
"Rockhold is right. He's the next guy in line and now they are holding up the weight class. The good news is GSP has to defend. If he wins the belt he's got to defend. So Rockhold is next in line or Whittaker," said Trigg.
Robert Whittaker won the UFC Interim Middleweight Champion at UFC 213. The interim championship was created because Bisping had not defended his championship in nine months. In the interim championship bout, Whittaker sustained a knee injury and is likely out until next year.
Trigg reasoned Rockhold is doing exactly what he needs to do in order to get the fight. Trigg said the rankings are not as important as making money as far as UFC matchmakers are concerned.
"So if Rockhold starts from the end of this fight saying 'get out of my way GSP, you're in my fight.' If he keeps talking noise until it's time to fight Bisping or GSP, then he will be the bigger fight, whether Whittaker is there or not. Because Rockhold is learning 'I got to trash talk' and all the other fighters better start listening," said Trigg.
Another example of a fighter talking his way into fights is Kevin Lee according to Trigg. He said Lee is fighting for the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship because he spoke up persistently and continued to win. Trigg also reiterated he agreed with Rockhold's statements and Trigg argued St-Pierre should have fought at Middleweight before fighting for the championship.
Also during the podcast, Trigg discussed Jon Jones' drug test failure and the interesting scorecards from the Canelo Alvarez versus Gennady Golovkin boxing match. Trigg and other mixed-martial-arts personalties appear each week in interview segments on Fightful MMA's Holy Smokes podcast.
Holy Smokes airs on Tuesday at FightfulPods.com.
