Luke Rockhold is fed up with the UFC’s association with pop culture YouTubers.
Luke Rockhold is entering into his 11th UFC fight this weekend when he takes on Paulo Costa at UFC 278. Rockhold came up in the Strikeforce organization and made his way into the UFC back in 2013. He worked his way up to a title shot in 2015 and became the middleweight champion. He later took some time away from competition and is now returning after three years.
Rockhold is old school when it comes to fighting. A lot has changed in the UFC since his last fight and in his opinion, not all for the better. Rockhold spoke recently about the UFC’s involvement with “pop culture” and he aired his disappointment with Dana White and the UFC’s acceptance of the YouTubers called The Nelk Boys.
Rockhold Goes Off On The Nelk Boys And The UFC Allowing Them Access
“The world’s going to shit,” Rockhold told Shak Mahjouri on his YouTube channel h/t Bloody Elbow. “Incorporating Full Send into the UFC is just the dumbest thing ever. I see these guys around here, I’m like, ‘Why the f—k are these degenerate kids a part of our f—ng company? Why is Dana White… ‘cause he’s trying to buy into popular culture? Popular culture is going down the drain, it’s bringing the whole world down the drain, and people just need to wake up.”
The Nelk Boys are YouTubers who are known for pranks and vlogs and now the entertainment company called Full Send. Lately, these guys have been given special access to the UFC and fighters. They have also been given special treatment from Dana White himself. He recently gifted one of the boys $250,000 for his birthday. This gift cause an uproar with UFC fighters and fans claiming that the gift accounted for more than many fighters on the roster make.
Uncle @danawhite just gave me $250,000 for my birthday.. pic.twitter.com/noH34JF8zY
— KYLE (@KyleForgeard) July 12, 2022
Rockhold also has an issue with a reporter from Full Send because he gave a Mexican Luchador mask to Rockhold’s friend and training partner Marlon Vera. Vera is from Ecuador and Rockhold believed the gift was rude. He did not hold back as he address the “media member” at the UFC 278 media day.
“I see all you guys around here right now, and I see this motherf—ker right here. You need to do your f—king homework. This f—king degenerate culture of Barstool Sports and Full Send, you gotta do your homework. You can’t approach ‘Chito’ and give him a f—king Mexican mask and about his culture. His culture? He’s f—king Ecuadorian motherf—ker. Do your homework,” Rockhold said.
Rockhold was in rare form at media day, along with the attack on the Youtubers and Full Send personnel, he also ranted on about fighter pay. As his first fight back in three years, it seems as though he has been holding onto a lot of animosity and can now let it all out.
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