Disagreements in the work place can be healthy: Not everyone has to agree on everything. But while it can make the work environment more lively, it can also go sideways.
Earlier this month, former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold voiced his displeasure, stating the top four contenders in the 185-pound division (himself, Yoel Romero, Robert Whittaker, and Gegard Mousasi) should go on a self-imposed strike until an interim title fight is made. That displeasure comes from what Rockhold and the other three fighters deemed an absurd title fight between champion Michael Bisping and former welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre for later in 2017.
MORE: White made right move yanking Bisping vs. St-Pierre
During Saturday's UFC 211 post-fight NEWS conference, UFC president Dana White was asked by a reporter about Demian Maia getting a welterweight title shot after his win over Jorge Masvidal. The UFC president took the long route in answering, and decided to take it upon himself and blast Rockhold.
“Listen, I was thinking about this when I talked to some of the media here yesterday. There was a lot of guys talking about ‘deserve, deserve.’ Nobody deserves anything. You’ve got to earn it here," White said. "It’s like these guys want to sit around — you’ve got Rockhold right now screaming, ‘I deserve this.’ You just got knocked out in the first round (to Michael Bisping at UFC 199 last June). You don’t deserve anything. You’ve got to come back and earn it.”
If you thought Rockhold (15-3) would just sit back and not retaliate against his boss — as most employees would do — think again.
@danawhite I never said I deserved a title shot. I said we (middleweights) deserve clarity. We deserve something to fight for.
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) May 16, 2017
@danawhite "You have to earn your way in this company"? Tell me how did GSP earn a middleweight title shot? Think before you run your mouth
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) May 16, 2017
White, who never responds to his employees' concerns and frustrations on Twitter, didn't mince words and came right back at Rockhold.
@LukeRockhold pic.twitter.com/3buw7twqEv
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 16, 2017
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Of course, Rockhold and White are both right in their assessments.
Rockhold was spot on in his thoughts on an interim title fight: Bisping and St-Pierre wouldn't have fought until October or November. You cannot go a full year without a title being defended. Having the top two contenders fighting for an interim title would create a sense of importance and keeps the division moving. But all that appears to be for naught, as White said last week Bisping vs. St-Pierre is off and No. 1 contender Romero will instead face Bisping.
White is also right inasmuch St-Pierre never lost the championship inside the octagon when he forfeited the title in Dec. 2013 to go on a hiatus. St-Pierre (25-2) wanted to go up in weight and fight for the middleweight title. For what he has done in the sport, St-Pierre deserves the chance to take that journey. Nobody, including Rockhold, would pass up that opportunity if given the chance.
At the end of the day, White and Rockhold will let bygones be bygones and move on. The middleweight title situation appears to been solved, and Rockhold will soon get a high-profile fight.
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and Boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can find his podcast, "The Fight Club Chicago," and subscribe on iTunes. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
