Luke Rockhold rips Paulo Costa for trying to delay fight

Based on Luke Rockhold, Paulo Costa may not be able to battle him at UFC 277.

Rockhold (16-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) and Costa are scheduled to sq. off July 30 at American Airways Middle in Dallas, however the former UFC middleweight champion revealed that their battle could get rebooked to a later date.

“He’s making an attempt to delay the battle once more to August 20,” Rockhold instructed Submission Radio. “This man is … one thing’s occurring behind the scenes. I don’t know what you’re doing over there, Caitlin. …

“The contract was signed, and now he’s making an attempt to maneuver it once more, making room for all these detailed issues that he’s engaged on. Perhaps a brand new booty?”

Rockhold, who hasn’t competed since his knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz in July 2019, has seen his return delayed on a number of events and is beginning to get actually annoyed.

“We wished July 2, after which I feel he had his first surgical procedure,” Rockhold mentioned. “After which there’s July 30, after which I feel he’s on his second or third, after which they wish to go to August 20. That’s all I’m listening to proper now.”

He continued, “That is the final straw. I imply, the UFC needs it, I wish to battle, I adore it, I really like the battle, however I ain’t gonna wait any longer, and I’ll be prepared if one thing else occurs in any other case to someone else, too. So, I’m in coaching, I’m working, nothing’s altering, and I’m simply getting higher. I’m simply getting f*cking higher on a regular basis.”

Costa (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is coming off a unanimous choice loss to Marvin Vettori this previous October within the UFC Battle Night time 196 headliner, a battle that occurred at mild heavyweight after Costa had issues making the middleweight mark.

Rockhold likes the matchup with former title challenger Costa however is beginning to query his professionalism and if he’s mentally able to battle him.

“I feel he needs to battle. I simply suppose he’s simply frightened about weight and coming again after two losses and like, that is while you discover out who the f*ck you might be,” Rockhold mentioned. “You lose, and also you come again. You understand, you may have all the arrogance on the earth while you’re successful, however while you get shook, you get shook. And so let’s see what you’ve f*cking acquired. That is when the actual fighters come out. That is when the boys come out, and he’s confirmed that he’s only a f*cking boy.”