Luke Rockhold goes all out against the UFC over fighter pay and Francis Ngannou treatment

Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has spoken out against the promotion, criticizing them for their treatment of fighters and their pay. Rockhold has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the UFC and their practices.

During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani's show, The MMA Hour, Rockhold did not hold back in his criticism of the UFC's treatment of fighters. He particularly referenced their pay system and the handling of former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou's situation.

Rockhold voiced his support for Ngannou and expressed his disappointment with the UFC's handling of his contract negotiations. He went on to criticize the promotion's overall fighter pay system, stating that fighters should receive a greater share of the revenue generated by the sport.

He feels that the current revenue-sharing model is unfair to athletes who are the ones putting their health and safety on the line.

The former middleweight champion stated:

"I'm not surprised [Ngannou] left. Always been a fan of Francis and always had the same ideology about the situations that we have encountered with the UFC. Good for him man, he can have that freedom and integrity."

He further added:

"People are just f*cking UFC d*ck s*ckers. I'm tired of that sh*t. You gotta realize that there's more to this game and it's not just their narrative tells the world."

Check out Luke Rockhold's entire rant on UFC fighter pay below:

The 38-year-old mixed martial artist has also been specifically opposed to the promotion's owner, Endeavor, who acquired the company in 2016 for a whopping $4 billion. Rockhold is of the opinion that the company's issues with fighter pay and treatment stem largely from Endeavor's management of the promotion.

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Former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez signed a deal with BKFC

The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has recently bolstered its ranks by signing two former UFC champions, Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez. The announcement was made by BKFC founder Dave Feldman during an episode of The MMA Hour.

The addition of Luke Rockhold and Alvarez to BKFC's roster has generated considerable buzz in the combat sports community. Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion, will make his debut in the 185-pound weight class, facing the hard-hitting Mike Perry at BKFC 41. The event is scheduled to take place on April 29 in Broomfield, Colorado.

The move to BKFC represents a fresh start for Rockhold, who parted ways with the UFC after a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa in August 2022. Perry, a former UFC welterweight, has a 2-0 record with BKFC, having secured decision victories over Julian Lane and Bellator MMA attraction Michael 'Venom' Page.

The signing of Rockhold and Alvarez demonstrates BKFC's increasing reputation in the combat sports industry. The promotion has steadily gained popularity in recent years by offering fans a unique and exciting form of combat sport. With the addition of two high-profile fighters like Rockhold and Alvarez, BKFC is poised to continue its upward trajectory.