Woodley: I want to ‘finish off my division’ then move up to middleweight

[La Paix]

As he continues to go through rehab for his shoulder surgery, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has yet to finalize his next fight date. But if it were up to him, he would be back by UFC 227, which takes place on August 4th in Los Angeles.

“I’m projected to be back Aug. 4. That’s when I want to fight. I want to fight in L.A,” Woodley said on a recent episode of MMAjunkie Radio. “I’m ready. I’ve been starting to go 100 percent on a lot of things.”

“Obviously I’m still doing rehab, still getting the strength back. But it’s not restricting me from a lot.”

As for the opponent, Woodley is not exactly particular, since he recognizes that there is quite a long line of contenders waiting for him.

“I’m not really concerned with who’s ready, who’s next,” Woodley said. “You’ve got to realize there are certain rights you deserve as a champion. When I’m ready to fight, now it’s time to fight. Whoever they got for me to fight at this time, come get this work. I don’t want to sit back and say, ‘Oh, I want to sit and wait to see what happens with this fight.’ I’m the champion. I want to fight”.

Tyron Woodley: I want to ‘finish off my division’ then move up to middleweight

 

[SC MMA MD]

I wonder how he will fare at 185. He is a big dude, and very strong; but I think he will be giving up quite a bit of reach in most cases and there are some other great wrestlers floating around at 185.

 

[member 3289]

He loses to Till

 

[La Paix]

He loses to Till

Not sure about that. Till likes to trap guys against the fence and Woodley always likes it there. Has Till faced any good wrestlers yet?

 

[kneeblock]

Woodley has about two guys left to beat and the division is cleaned out. The question is how we'll appraise his career as WW champ with GSP's.

 

[member 3289]

Woodley has about two guys left to beat and the division is cleaned out. The question is how we'll appraise his career as WW champ with GSP's.

Both boring grapplers who play it safe.

One has a French accent.

 

[member 3289]

Not sure about that. Till likes to trap guys against the fence and Woodley always likes it there. Has Till faced any good wrestlers yet?

I'd have to check but he's a huge dude and I honestly see him as the future of the division as long as he can make weight.

Oh and Nate Marquardt had no problem trapping Woodley against the fence.

 

[La Paix]

Oh and Nate Marquardt had no problem trapping Woodley against the fence.

This is like me reminding you Duffy beat Conor.

 

[Papi Chingon]

He hasn't had that many fights in the ufc, let alone as champ. He's got a long way to go to clean out the division. Since he's had his fair share of stinkers, I'd imagine when he loses they won't give him an immediate rematch. If he wants to go to 185, and if he is champion at that time, I'd imagine they will make him vacate his belt. He's not very popular and he complains too much.

 

[member 3289]

This is like me reminding you Duffy beat Conor.

I'm just saying that a bigger welterweight can take advantage of Woodley's baiting technique.

 

[Papi Chingon]

I just looked at rankings and he hasn't fought 7 of the top 10 at ww.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

I just looked at rankings and he hasn't fought 7 of the top 10 at ww.

Where were his opponents ranked at the time he fought them?

 

[Papi Chingon]

Where were his opponents ranked at the time he fought them?

I don't know, but his statement is recent, so I simply looked at what it would take to clear out a division. Very few fighters have ever done this. He won the belt vs robbie, fought wonder boy twice, then maia. He's got a long way to go, unless he doesn't mean what he said and is doing 1 or 2 more fights at ww then moving up.

 

[Jehannum]

I'd have to check but he's a huge dude and I honestly see him as the future of the division as long as he can make weight.

Oh and Nate Marquardt had no problem trapping Woodley against the fence.

This is like me reminding you Duffy beat Conor.

Rory Macdonald did it too, but the Duffy loss IS still relevant anyway because Conor still gets exposed by fighters with BJJ

 

[La Paix]

Rory Macdonald did it too, but the Duffy loss IS still relevant anyway because Conor still gets exposed by fighters with BJJ

I'll assume one of those BJJ guys is Nate? If so Nate beat him with his boxing in the second round forcing him to panic wrestle which setup the choke. Good call on Rory though, he had him all kinds of confused against the fence.

For Till vs Woodley I can't see Till being nearly as aggressive with his hands knowing Tyron can put him on his back and make him pay.

 

[Jehannum]

I'll assume one of those BJJ guys is Nate? If so Nate beat him with his boxing in the second round forcing him to panic wrestle which setup the choke. Good call on Rory though, he had him all kinds of confused against the fence.

For Till vs Woodley I can't see Till being nearly as aggressive with his hands knowing Tyron can put him on his back and make him pay.

you could say he got beat by Nate's boxing because he was so worried about his grappling though

I'm definitely not one of those picking Till to beat Woodley, but I still haven't seen the Wonderboy/Till fight yet

 

[La Paix]

you could say he got beat by Nate's boxing because he was so worried about his grappling though

I'm definitely not one of those picking Till to beat Woodley, but I still haven't seen the Wonderboy/Till fight yet

It's a long watch mate.

 

[Papi Chingon]

you could say he got beat by Nate's boxing because he was so worried about his grappling though

I'm definitely not one of those picking Till to beat Woodley, but I still haven't seen the Wonderboy/Till fight yet

I haven't either, but I heard it was like Woodley vs wonder boy 2, so I have zero reason to seek it out.

 

[Jehannum]

It's a long watch mate.

Yeah but I knew it would be even before the event, basically a glorified staring contest with less than 10 significant strikes each per round. I wasn't far wrong was I?

 

[La Paix]

Yeah but I knew it would be even before the event, basically a glorified staring contest with less than 10 significant strikes each per round. I wasn't far wrong was I?

I think more like 2 total each.

 

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

Every time this dude opens his mouth i hate him more. He’s a legend in his own mind. He Hasn’t cleaned out the division. GSP cleaned out the division years ago, Tyron hasn’t done shit. He talks way more than he fights. Also, seems way too short for MW. Is he the same size as Hendrix? That worked well for him.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Not sure about that. Till likes to trap guys against the fence and Woodley always likes it there. Has Till faced any good wrestlers yet?

No.

And in a moment of self-awareness, said that's the one thing he's concerned with.