'Guys like me would feast on Georges': Luke Rockhold does not expect St-Pierre to continue at middleweight

Luke Rockhold does not expect middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre to continue fighting at 185 pounds as he urges him to move on and leave the division.

St-Pierre became just the fourth fighter to win a title in different divisions after he returned from a four-year hiatus to submit Michael Bisping on 4 November at UFC 217 and become the middleweight champion.

The French-Canadian was expected to face Robert Whittaker next, who became the interim middleweight champion back in June.

However, there was no update on a potential title unification fight following the event, with St-Pierre ultimately holding all the cards according to the UFC's vice-president of international content, David Shaw.

Rockhold, who lost his middleweight title to Bisping at UFC 199 in June 2016, believes it is a guarantee that "GSP" will not fight any of the other 185-pounders.

"He's not fighting any of us," Rockhold told The MMA Hour. "He's too small. Guys like me would feast on Georges. He won't last here.

"He had his opportunity, he got his belt, good for you. Just move along and let us handle our business here. I thought [GSP] would potentially lose, yes. But I did say if he did win, he would be in a situation where wouldn't fight any of us and then we would just be more tangled up."

News recently emerged that St-Pierre would be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a potentially serious condition. However, Rockhold is not completely buying it.

"I don't want to jump to conclusions," Rockhold added. "But, I mean, the fact is come out and just that say you don't want to fight here in the division, relinquish the title, and move on.

"I'm tired of story after story and just dragging us on and leaving us in the dark. State what it is. If you're sick you're sick, but the fact is, you don't want to fight in the division."

Rockhold recently returned to action in September for the first time since his loss to Bisping as he defeated David Branch in an impressive display. As for his next fight, the American wants Whittaker, rather than Yoel Romero who the UFC has been proposing as a next opponent.

"There's been talks all along the way, potential this, potential that," Rockhold explained. "They have to make up backup plans.

"They're trying to make fights like Yoel Romero right now. Why would I fight Yoel Romero when there's no clearcut person fighting Whittaker? Obviously I want to fight for the title if that's available, I'm not going to f*****g sign any fight. I want to fight for the title, and if that's available, that what I'm going to do.

"If Georges were to stay, it would be laughable. I'd be seeking the fight, I'm not seeking the fight because that's not realistic. Georges won't fight me, he won't fight anyone. So, he looks right, Whittaker is the real champ, he has been the real champ a long time. Like I said, make it official and let's move on."