This would be some end to a great year in the UFC.
Tyron Woodley insists he is brand new and ready to roll again.
The UFC welterweight champion was given a mighty scare by Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson at Madison Square Garden, last weekend, but held onto his belt after a majority draw [one judge gave him the bout, two scored it even].
Woodley was due to face No.1 contender Demian Maia next but events of the past week have altered the landscape.
Thompson can legitimately claim an immediate rematch while Maia, who was in attendance at UFC 205, also has a strong case. Woodley had a couple of run-ins with Conor McGregor and told reporters he would be happy to defend his 170 lb strap against The Notorious. Upon learning that, the Dubliner replied:
“I’m sure he would. I’m sure he f**king would. They all would.”
During his interview on The MMA Hour, earlier this week, Woodley once again stated that he would happily take McGregor on but cautioned him on the power game he would face.
“Three belts.
He couldn't… could he?” https://t.co/kxrBgf4anM— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 13, 2016
The Chosen One is aware of McGregor taking some time away from the sport to prepare for his impending fatherhood, though, so he is looking beyond him. Woodley wants to be a fighting, earning champion. He said:
“I respect Maia as a martial artist. I thought in victory I would [next] compete against him. We had some words in the back [at MSG] and he said he wanted to compete against me. I said, ‘Hey man, I’m not against that’.
“I’m not against anything. People like for you to [say] ‘Any time, Any place’ because it sounds great but as a true sports person I’m not afraid to do the right thing. I’ve been in the No.1 contender slot four times and only one time have I got the shot.”
Woodley added, “Maybe it’s time for me to get a fight in with Maia in December and if Wonderboy wants to get some after that, maybe we go again. I’m not against anything.”
UFC 207 will take place in Las Vegas on December 30 and Woodley says he is fresh as a daisy.
Here is the poster for UFC 207 where Ronda Rousey will face Amanda Nunes for the Women's Bantamweight Championship on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/qVgpqBW02t
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 10, 2016
McGregor also proclaimed, after his lightweight title win over Eddie Alvarez, that he was ready to fight again but surely five massive fights in 12 months would be too much for him. Surely?
The UFC 207 card will be headlined by Ronda Rousey’s return and her quest to get the UFC women’s bantamweight belt off current holder Amanda Nunes.
