Luke Rockhold: "UFC hype machine discredited Strikeforce"

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http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/9/1...people-closed-minded-believe-ufc-hype-machine

Strikeforce was largely considered the second best MMA promotion with the second best MMA fighters. When the UFC bought out Strikeforce in 2011, Scott Coker's roster merged with Dana White's under the Zuffa umbrella, and many were unsure of of how well Coker's boys would stack up against the divisional elite.

As it turns out, the Strikeforce army invaded the UFC and were taking no prisoners. Daniel Cormier is the light heavyweight champion; Robbie Lawler has conquered the welterweight division; Ronda Rousey is the promotion's biggest star; and Luke Rockhold could soon become the next Strikeforce fighter to wear UFC gold.

Rockhold, who is set to challenge Chris Weidman for the middleweight championship at UFC 194, went into detail on how his fellow Strikeforce comrades didn't get the respect they deserved before joining forces with the UFC.

"Tim Kennedy never got the respect he deserved," Rockhold recently told MMAFighting.com.

"Look at us now. Myself, Yoel Romero, Tim Kennedy and Jacare [Souza]. There's Weidman, and the rest of us are all from Strikeforce."

The AKA standout won the Strikeforce Middleweight title when he took on Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza - who is now ranked as the #2 UFC middleweight in the world - in 2011.

"I fought Jacare, Jacare was ranked No. 5 in the world, maybe even higher at the point I fought him," Rockhold said. "And instead of giving me the credit, because I was the kid from Strikeforce Challengers who people didn't believe in, this happened a lot, they took credit away from Jacare for who he was and what he's capable of, and bumped me to like No. 10 and put him outside to like No. 15. How does that levy out?"

Rockhold believes the UFC hype machine was responsible for fans' skewed perceptions of the Strikeforce talent. The WEC roster also faced similar critique before merging with the UFC in 2010.

"People are closed-minded," Rockhold said. "They believe in the hype train of the UFC. You've got to give the UFC credit for making people believe it is the best talent. I'm just glad to be here and finally get the credit I deserve."
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Rockhold believes the UFC hype machine was responsible for fans' skewed perceptions of the Strikeforce talent. The WEC roster also faced similar critique before merging with the UFC in 2010.

"People are closed-minded," Rockhold said. "They believe in the hype train of the UFC. You've got to give the UFC credit for making people believe it is the best talent. I'm just glad to be here and finally get the credit I deserve."
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Maybe the casual fans

All the hardcore fans knew strikeforce had talent
 
any poster on sherdog worth a DIME knew strikeforce, wec, etc was CREAM of the crop, period.

A bunch of zuffa TARDS on the other hand, well, I can't speak for them(but I will) they thought Jim Miller was the end of be all of the LW division back in 2011 LMAO!!! need I say more LOL!
 
Nobody from strikefarce will ever win a UFC championship.

Except for Robbie. And Werdum... and DC.
 
Gorkle said:
He does somewhat discredit his own argument by putting Tim Kennedy in the top 5 MWs though.
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Nice ninja edit... :icon_lol:

I was going to say I didn't read that anywhere...

But I mean, Kennedy did beat Lawler :icon_chee
 
He's absolutely right. Strikeforce had some amazing fighters as evidenced by their current runs in the UFC.

Any MMA fan who watched even one Strikeforce event should have realized the great fighters they had.

Too many UFC fans, not enough MMA fans.
 
and just like that he'll be headlining a TUF finale regardless if he wins or loses his next fight. Don't speak against the reich.
 
Homeless Infant said:
Nice ninja edit... :icon_lol:

I was going to say I didn't read that anywhere...

But I mean, Kennedy did beat Lawler :icon_chee
Click to expand...

It's 8:30 Sunday morning and I'm using my phone! I'm surprised I only made 1 mistake!
 
The UFC Hype Machine has grown really strong though. They have Ronda and Conor brainwashing kids left and right.
 
He's right, I remember seeing posts where people said Guida and Jim Miller were better fighters than Gilbert Melendez
 
Gorkle said:
He does somewhat discredit his own argument by putting Tim Kennedy in the top 5 MWs though.
Click to expand...

Homeless Infant said:
Nice ninja edit... :icon_lol:

I was going to say I didn't read that anywhere...

But I mean, Kennedy did beat Lawler :icon_chee
Click to expand...

Good job proving Rockholds point. Kennedy went to war with both Jacare and Rockhold and very easily could have gotten the nod in both fights.
 
TheRuthlessOne said:
Maybe the casual fans

All the hardcore fans knew strikeforce had talent
Click to expand...

Yup all hardcore fans knew several of their weight class rivaled or even were better than UFC ones ( HW, MW.. )

Most of the SF top talent crossovers have been serious contenders or even champs..

(Lawler, DC..)
 
Damn...Luke firing shots at the big bosses. This could end badly

[YT]OgtQj8O92eI[/YT]
 
The Reed said:
Good job proving Rockholds point. Kennedy went to war with both Jacare and Rockhold and very easily could have gotten the nod in both fights.
Click to expand...

Rockhold outclassed Kennedy and it wasn't even close. He spent the whole fight on Kennedy's back. I like Kennedy and he is a solid top 10 guy but that fight was lop-sided. Kennedy did a little better against Jacare but was still in a defensive shell much of the fight.
 
Rockhold himself as a Strikeforce champion got KTFO as soon as he signed for the UFC.
 
Here is the UFC MW top ten without the Strikeforce guys

C. Chris Weidman
1. Vitor Belfort
2. Lyoto Machida
3. Michael Bisping
4. Thales Leites
5. CB Dollaway
6. Robert Whitaker
7. Roan Carneiro
8. Tim Boetsch
9. Josh Samman
10. Rafael Natal

Had to use other sites for after #8. Without the SF guys, that is one sorry top ten. I bet if SF were still around, people would think Tim Boetsch is on-par with Luke Rockhold.

Makes me wonder how the Bellator guys would do in the UFC.
 
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