Luke Rockhold wants ‘big money’ title fight against Robert Whittaker, not make a ‘little change’ against Yoel Romero

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold got back into the swing of things after over a year away from the fight game by picking up an impressive win over David Branch at UFC Fight Night 116 a few weeks ago.

Soon thereafter, Luke set his sights on the 185-pound title, calling out Georges St-Pierre for accepting a title fight against current division champion, Michael Bisping, which is set to go down on Nov. 4, 2017 at UFC 217 in New York City.

While Rockhold has to wait to see how that bout plays out, he doesn’t want to sit idle, saying he wants to take partake in “big money fights,” like a championship showdown against current interim champion, Robert Whittaker.

When asked if he’s be interested in facing Yoel Romero, Rockhold had this to say.

“I’d be interested in Whittaker. I want the title. Everything is gauged to get to the title, to get the money. I want money fights, that’s what I am here for,” he said on a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.

“I am turning 33, I’m not getting any younger and I want to set myself up. I’m not fighting for this little change, you know. I want the real money. Everything is structured to be there. Like I said before, I want a path, I want a direction and with both titles being held hostage, there is no point fighting anybody until they straighten things out. Or unless they pull up the title,” added the ex-Strikeforce champion.

Whittaker, though, is currently riding the pine with an injury, and likely won’t return to action until after St-Pierre and Bisping handle their business. That said, if Rockhold can’t secure a title fight at 185 pounds, he isn’t opposed to moving up to Light Heavyweight.

“Obviously I’d like to finish my business here at Middleweight, but I have been thinking about it for a long time. I’m a lot more explosive. The weight cut is definitely affecting me, and it takes time to shake off that nerve and get the feel back. I feel good at Light Heavyweight I feel great.”

Of course, he won’t be getting a title shot there, either, as his training partner and good friend, Daniel Cormier, is the champion once again in that weight class after Jon Jones was stripped of the strap for failing another drug test.

For now, it seems, Luke will simply have to wait and see how the middleweight division shakes out in the coming months.