Kenny Robertson (photo via UFC.com)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Although Kenny Robertson has plenty of momentum behind him, thanks to a solid run that includes back-to-back victories, don’t expect the welterweight to start slinging verbal jabs anytime soon. Since he was decisioned by Aaron Simpson in 2012, Robertson has gone 3-1 in the UFC, and the 30 year-old wants his wins to do the talking for him.

“I don’t really talk a whole lot of crap,” Robertson said on a recent episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio. “I figure you’re going to take care of it when you’re out there in the cage. Some people get emotional, and get frustrated, but either way you’re going to go in there and try to rip each other’s head off. So what’s the difference whether you’re talking sh-t or not?”

While a fighter can certainly make headlines and create buzz through their actions in the Octagon, there’s no question that they can also do so through trash talk and call outs. One need look no further than Conor McGregor, who has certainly turned heads with his performances, both physically and verbally.

“Oh yeah. It is an entertainment sport,” said Robertson, when asked if he believes fighters can secure big stage opportunities more quickly through utilizing the mic. “It would be great if everyone knew all the techniques and everything, and just enjoyed the fighting, but sometimes that trash talking will get an extra 100 people to watch, an extra 100,000 people to watch.”

Robertson

“So, I understand why they promote them up a little bit quicker, but that’s just something that I don’t do,” furthered Robertson, who scored a unanimous decision win over Ildemar Alcantara at UFC 175 in his last outing. “I’m not too worried about learning how to talk crap at this point in my career.”

It remains to be seen who and when Robertson will fight again. The Illinois fighter has scored clear cut victories in three of his last four bouts, but the UFC’s welterweight division remains one of the promotion’s most stacked.

“I’ve stepped in quite a few times,” noted Robertson, while discussing his next bout and the possibility of taking a short notice bout against a top ranked opponent. “There’s been a few times where I’ve actually had less than two months, or a month and a half, or whatever you normally get…That would be fine for me. I’ll fight anybody. That’s just how I’ve always been. Sometimes that’s made me lose, but you can’t always take the easy guy, you have to go after the big dogs.”

While Robertson has drawn praise for his takedowns and grappling, the welterweight has also showcased a developing striking game in recent bouts.

“I think with the striking, the biggest thing is that I’ve had the tools to strike, but it’s just been a matter of being comfortable with it,” said Robertson, who submitted Thiago Perpétuo in the first round at a UFC Fight Night in March. “Obviously if I get punched I can still take people down, if I get hit hard or whatever, and think that he’s winning the stand-up, I’ll always take somebody back down to the ground, but I felt like I was more relaxed. That’s the biggest thing with the striking. Being able to actually do it in the cage. I felt pretty good.”