Morning Report: Luke Rockhold on restructured UFC deal: 'These guys are trying to keep you down on these paychecks'

Fighters are definitely starting to demand more from the UFC.

Just last week former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold revealed that he had been offered a fight by the UFC but he turned it down because "the money was bullshit." The UFC didn't waste much time from there; just a few days later they announced that Rockhold would be returning to the Octagon later this year in a rematch with divisional standout Ronaldo Souza. The quick turnaround between Rockhold's comments and his acceptance of the fight suggested that the UFC offered Rockhold terms he found more agreeable than those of his original contract. Yesterday on the Extra Rounds podcast, Rockhold confirmed as much and spoke about why he held out.

"I signed my contract with the UFC back before I fought Machida. I had confidence in myself to win the title and I thought that I'd find myself in a better situation but the contract fell back - before I was able to restructure it - to a place where I wasn't really happy with it. Seeing what I fell back to and knowing what I've accomplished and my credibility in the sport, I wasn't happy with what they were offering. It's gonna take more than that to get me to fight. I've got other avenues outside the sport, and I'm not gonna go fight when it's not worth it. I gotta get my due, I've gotta get my worth. No matter how much I love fight, and what I'm doing out here, I need to get f*cking paid."

Rockhold is far from the only fighter who has been embroiled in contract disputes lately. Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor were both in widely publicized spats with the UFC over their contracts before UFC 200 (when that was the target date for the fight). Women's strawweight contender Joanne Calderwood complained she was "broke as hell" after beating Valerie Letourneau. And even UFC darling and company man Donald Cerrone complained, "According to my pay, I don't mean shit to the UFC" after his fight with Patrick Cote at UFC Fight Night 89. And according to Rockhold, this isn't an anomaly but the start of the new normal for the UFC.

"I think we're in a transition period. I think there's definitely positive change in the sport and people are starting to realize it's about leverage in the right situation and understanding your worth... These guys are trying to keep you down on these paychecks, keep you hungry, keep you needing more."

While waiting for "a fight that makes sense, "Rockhold is able to pursue other lucrative ventures outside of the world of fighting, specifically, modeling; many other fighters aren't as fortunate. Still, the move paid off for Rockhold who got both the fight he wanted and the payday he was looking for.

"They restructured the deal for the time being, and so we got a new contract. We got a new contract upping the money, and we got the right fight so I think this will be the best fight for me right now to get me back to the title. I think we're clearly the best two guys in the division, so this will solidify myself to going back and getting my gold back."

Whether a win over Souza would earn Rockhold a rubber match with current champion Michael Bisping is very much up in the air. Rockhold is currently the No. 1 contender and Souza the No. 3; however, the winner of a matchup between former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (No. 2) and No. 4 contender Yoel Romero at UFC  slated for UFC 205 could very easily be slotted in as the next middleweight title challenger after Dan Henderson.

But before that becomes a concern, Rockhold must first beat Souza again. Their first fight was an extremely competitive fight for the Strikeforce middleweight championship back in 2011 and Rockhold's recent loss in his first ever rematch has him especially focused to not let the same thing happen again.

"It's about respecting your opponent, something I didn't do the last time out. I went out there and completely disregarded my opponent and what he brought to the table. Anything can happen in this game and I got caught. But it doesn't tell the tale of who the better fighter is. It's time for me to go back and fight in a way that got me to the title. That's being a precise, tactical fighter and respecting my opponent. Going in there and doing what I have to do."

Rockhold fights Souza at UFC Fight Night 101 on Nov. 27th in Melbourne, Australia. You can listen to the entire interview below. The Rockhold interview begins around the 16:30 mark.

MUST-READ STORIES

Chael vs. Wandy! Chael Sonnen has signed with Bellator MMA.

Sea level. Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez 2 is being targeted for UFC 207.

Money fight. If Conor McGregor doesn't return to featherweight, Jose Aldo wants to fight Anthony Pettis next.

Elevator. C.B. Dollaway is still in Ohio after suffering back injury before UFC 203.

Lightweight. Dan Hardy says that if he returns to MMA, it will be in the lightweight division.

EXTRA CREDIT READING

Kongo. Jordan Breen of Sherdog discusses the long, strange career of Cheick Kongo who fights tonight.

MEDIA STEW

Here's a thing that happened.

BJJ Scout did a vid on Gall-Punk

Tommy

He got hosed.

LISTEN UP

Morning Wood Show

Bushido Talk

TWEETS

Only regret is there won't be any Sonnen-McGregor trash talk.

The Rulers Back.

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) September 16, 2016

Nice.

I'm not fighting for a stankass interim title...

— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) September 15, 2016

DC I want to fight you in New York City on Nov 12. We got 7.5 weeks to get ready and put on a fight for the fans...https://t.co/ZPOzMJQVGB

— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) September 15, 2016

u deserve shot. I'm not waiting! Sorry bud NYC won't happen. But you can get it again Dec 30th. #downgoesrumblehttps://t.co/QdZeOFtiHk

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 15, 2016

Best signing Bellator has ever had.

Fun times ahead... #BellatorNation https://t.co/3T2DnVW2dB

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) September 16, 2016

And an example.

Got home from my 3rd today workout to find a @usantidoping rep ready to take a sample. He is checking my supplements pic.twitter.com/JpO3u4NEgs

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 16, 2016

I don't know what any of this means.

Fuck what they talking about lol https://t.co/cnWqms3BW0

— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) September 15, 2016

Brock Lesnar has some ideas on what to do with chicken shit.

I called out the whole top ten last time. Only 1 accepted and signed. I smell in this division. Excuses all around

— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) September 15, 2016

Not a bad fight.

Love this fight. What do you think, @HolyWarAngelMMA? You get hometown crowd.. @ufc @danawhite@seanshelby @elwinter https://t.co/Hl3xMAerfB

— Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) September 15, 2016

@JoshSamman @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby @elwinter @williamkim_ @MMA_Jim @FloCombat ~U sure u want that butt whooping in NYC lol? Lets do it~

— Oluwale Bamgbose (@HolyWarAngelMMA) September 15, 2016

Man.. I forgot we already whooped up on you once. I'm not one for sloppy seconds but I'll get the finish this time.https://t.co/Tt3fAX30eO

— Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) September 15, 2016

Pena going full hammer and tongs here.

#TBT Amanda is ducking me!! She's waiting to fight Honda. #FIGHTME! I don't blame her because she knows Honda is the easiest fight in the division now. She's broken. She's the easiest pay day for Amanda. Amanda is sitting on the sideline as the "champ" when all the girls before her didn't! Holly and Miesha are true fighters. They didn't wait. They didn't hide their belts and wait for a pay day. They fought. They acted like the champion should. They looked at the next toughest girl in line and said 'let's find out who's best' like a #champion should. That's how Amanda got her shot! Had they waited for Honda, there's no Holly v. Miesha and that amazing dramatic finish that will be remembered for years! There's no Miesha v. Amanda HEADLINING historic UFC 200! None of that happens if these women stopped and hid their belts and waited for Honda!! Now we have a chance to fight at the first @ufc event EVER at #MSG and you want to sit and wait?! Be a true #champ and get in the cage and prove you're the champ! If Amanda thinks she can beat me, then what is she waiting for? The fact is she is ducking me. She's #scared and she should be! I'm the only #undefeated #girl on the #bantamweight roster that has not lost in the #ufc #octagon! 7-0. I'm fighting Amanda next ! Get your popcorn ready and if you don't believe me ? bet against me and lose the farm then! #quitplayin #quitduckin #dontbescaredhomey #JuliannaPeña #HeartGritDisciplineDetermination #YouCantStopMe #RealTalk @Amanda_leoa #WeAintNewToThisWeTrueToThis

A photo posted by Julianna Nicole Peña (@venezuelanvixen) on Sep 15, 2016 at 3:28pm PDT

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stefan Struve (27-8-0) vs. Daniel Omielanczuk (19-5-1, 1 NC); UFC 204, October 8.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I love the Bellator signing of Chael. I genuinely think he is the best acquisition Scott Coker has ever made. And I know everyone is pumped about the Wandy and Tito fights (don't get me wrong, I absolutely am too) but there is one fight above all others that needs to happen now: Chael P. Sonnen vs. Fedor Emelianenko. That would be, without a doubt, the best fight Bellator has ever put together from a promotional standpoint. Honestly, Scott Coker, if somehow you see this, please make that happen. I don't care what you have to do, I will pay you all my money for that fight and the four months of build up that goes with it. There isn't an MMA fight I want more.

That's it for this week y'all. Have a great weekend and enjoy the fights.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.