Rockhold suggests it’s time to shine spotlight on ‘true’ fighters not guys like Lesnar

As Brock Lesnar prepped to enter the Octagon at UFC 141, Luke Rockhold, who was cageside, knew the big man was in big trouble.

"I think he was just playing a role. I saw right through him. His confidence looked very ... it didn't appear real," Rockhold told ESPN1100/98.9 FM in Las Vegas.

Rockhold was working the Sin City promotional scene today to push his Saturday fight (Showtime 10 p.m. ET/PT) against Keith Jardine at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel. He didn't pull any punches when it came to Lesnar's performance.

"Did you see him singing the rap country? When he started rapping along to the country song I was like ' what the hell is this guy doing?' I almost saw his lip quivering as he was walking into the cage. He just looked like he was playing a role. He was kind of believing his own hype that people were putting in his ear. I saw true confidence out of Overeem and a true fighter," said Rockhold.

Rockhold called it before the fight and said most of the guys around him at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Ca. were saying the same thing.

"Lesnar's what I thought. All the media and all you guys had Lesnar taking it. The fighters had Overeem," said Rockhold.

Rockhold understands why Lesnar was around, but is hoping younger fighters get more of the spotlight in 2012.

"I think he brought a whole new audience to the sport. So I can't exactly say it's a negative. People really need to see who the true fighters are. Lesnar's not the best in the world. He just got the right matchups and the right fights," said Rockhold.

The 185-pound champ for Strikeforce headlines a deep card with rising prospects like Muhammed Lawal and Tyron Woodley. He was also very bullish on Jordan Mein and Tarec Saffiedine.

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