Luke Rockhold's firing back at Anthony Smith ... a fighter he says is a soft, talent-less bitch who'd get OWNED in a fight with the former UFC champ.
TMZ Sports talked to Luke after he was BLASTED by Smith at a UFC press conference ... where Anthony called him "a f**king piece of sh*t" and promised to "beat that dude's f**king ass.”
Smith hates Luke's guts ... and the feeling's mutual.
"I don't think much of Anthony Smith. I don't think he's very tough, technical, talented.