American superstar Jake Paul has been branded a “p***y” and weight bully by former UFC champ Luke Rockhold – who is also urging Australia’s Robert Whittaker to finally take him on in a showdown eight years in the making.

Already boasting world titles in both Strikeforce and the UFC, Rockhold has now arrived in the chaotic world of Misfits Boxing, headlining Sunday’s hyped pay-per-view against Englishman Darren Till.

Certainly the Californian is no stranger to Australian fight fans, having twice headlined UFC events Down Under against Michael Bisping and Yoel Romero.

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Rockhold has also declared himself keen for a boxing showdown with Whittaker, who famously withdrew from an anticipated 2018 UFC title clash between the pair after contracting chicken pox.

While Whittaker is still ranked at No.8 in the UFC middleweight division, Rockhold suggested the fighter who was once in discussions for a $5 million boxing showdown with Jai Opetaia switch, stressing: “This s*** can still happen”.

The American also stressed he was keen for a 2026 showdown with Paul, declaring the Youtuber-turned-boxer a fake fighter who alternates between “fighting senior citizens and midgets”.

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“And that’s actually the thing now motivating me,” Rockhold told Fox Sports Australia on the eve of his Misfits debut.

“I’m here because of these guys – these p***ies — who aren’t real fighters.

“Sure, Misfits does have some real guys on its roster.

“But there’s others in the sport who don’t deserve to be here and just run their mouths.

“Guys like Jake Paul.

“Dillon Danis too, that guy needs to shut his f***ing mouth.

“I’d actually love the chance to shut up that little sewer rat.

“I’d d*** slap that kid.”

Rockhold also took aim at Paul for recently challenging UK heavyweight Anthony Joshua, only to then sign on for a November exhibition bout against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who competes at just 60kg.

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“I respect men that fight,” the former Octagon champ continued.

“Because there is something about walking into either a ring or cage that you have to respect.

“But to do it against much older men, much smaller men, lesser men … to have all these different circumstances, it’s bulls****.

“These guys don’t deserve any credibility.

“And that’s why I’ll happily face Jake Paul once he’s done fighting senior citizens and midgets.

“Maybe he’ll step up and fight a real fighter.”

Way back in 2018, Rockhold was famously slated to headline UFC 221 in Perth against Whittaker, who had himself just been elevated to middleweight king after Georges St Pierre retired.

However, when Bobby Knuckles contracted a serious case of chicken pox during the build – and was subsequently ruled out after his skin bubbled and blistered — Rockhold then agreed to face Yoel Romero, even after the Cuban monster weighed in well overweight on fight eve.

It was a decision that saw Rockhold subsequently kayoed, lose three straight and ultimately leave the UFC altogether.

“And from time to time, yeah, I do think about it,” he conceded this week of what became a crazy sliding doors moment.

“At that time, Whittaker was going to be a great fight for me.

“And I definitely wanted to test myself against him.

“But then the way circumstances played out, with Romero missing weight and everything, it was extremely unfortunate.

“But hey, you never know now with Misfits … this s*** can still happen.”

Rockhold added that the time was now right for Whittaker, who was once previously in discussions for an all-Australian showdown with now IBF cruiserweight champ Opetaia.

Aussie boxing promoters No Limit would also be keen to strike a deal with the Sydneysider should he offer to switch sports, having also previously tried to make a bout between himself and Paul Gallen.

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Now aged 34, Whittaker has lost two straight UFC fights — and four of his past seven — however the future Hall of Famer remains ranked at No.8.

Many are also convinced ‘The Reaper’ was robbed in his most recent decision loss against hyped title contender Reinier de Ridder.

“But is he really going to go chase a UFC world title back down?” Rockhold asked.

“Misfits are doing some great things and a guy like Whittaker? Absolutely, he would be a great fit.

“The guy is a huge name with great hands, so if he wants to jump, why not?

“I mean, we all need change.

“That’s the zest of life and what keeps things interesting.

“It’s why you don’t want to be with the same broad your whole life, right? You need a little flavour from time to time.

“So if Rob wants to switch over and do his thing, yeah, that would be a fun dance.”

Ironically, Till is also a former Whittaker opponent – having narrowly lost a 2020 showdown between the pair on points.

He also agreed the Australian would be an immediate superstar in the crossover boxing space, declaring: “F***ing hell, Misfits would more than welcome Rob right now if he wants to come over.”

It was also the Whittaker loss that started a run of three straight losses for Till, before he also left the UFC.

Asked if he ever looked back on his own showdown with The Reaper, and how things may have played out differently in victory, he says: “I do look back on that fight, yeah.

“I’m someone who tries to live their life with no regrets but, yeah, there is a thing inside me where sometimes I think ‘if I win that fight what would’ve happened?’.

“Maybe I go on to fight (then champion) Israel Adesanya.

“And there are people who would give that fight to me.

“Others say Rob nicked it in the fifth.

“I dunno.

“But it was one of them close fights, so you can’t be mad.

“And my journey has been mapped out differently.

“It’s forward motion only.”

Elsewhere, Rockhold played down Till’s recent rise and rise in crossover boxing fights – where he has won three straight in 2025 – declaring his rivals were “bums”.

“But I can hit,” Rockhold stressed. “And I hit my target.

“But Darren Till? He’s been fighting bums.

“And barely getting by doing that.

“He’s got good hands but he hasn’t been able to put these bums away.”