It took Tyron Woodley roughly two minutes to shake up the welterweight division by removing Robbie Lawler from his consciousness with an overhand right at UFC 201. And it didn’t take much longer after that for him to start playing matchmaker.
The new 170-pound champ openly admitted he has his sights set on a big payday and called out two superstars we haven’t seen in a while.
In a somewhat awkward post-fight interview, top welterweight contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, who was working as a UFC 201 analyst for FOX Sports, asked Woodley if he’d be up for a fight against him in November.
This is how Woodley responded:
“This is what I think. You said you wanted to fight Robbie Lawler [before the fight] and you’ll get an opportunity to fight Robbie Lawler,” Woodley said. “Who I want to fight now is…I think Nick Diaz comes off suspension [on Aug. 1], he’s a money fight.
“I want to make the big dough, so if he wants to fight [at UFC 202 on Aug. 20] with his brother Nate Diaz [who headlines that event alongside Conor McGregor], I think me and him can throw down at the event…I think he deserves it, I think he’s put enough butts in the seats, he deserves to make that payday, so let’s go get it.”
Woodley said his second choice would be a matchup with former champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 205 in November.
“I want to make some money. I’ll be honest,” Woodley added at the post-fight press conference. “Goal one is to be the welterweight champion of the world, but I put in too much time, I’m away from my family way too often. This is a sport where we can make cash now…I know [Diaz is] training already. Let him cash out. I’m willing to give him the opportunity. Or, I would like to fight Georges St-Pierre in New York City.
“Nick Diaz is a top-five welterweight of all time in my eyes,” Woodley added. “Georges St-Pierre is the No. 1 welterweight in my eyes. If I’m an athlete in this sport, in this division and I want to say I’m the best in the world, I feel like I should compete against those guys. So I don’t feel any obligation to go by the rankings…I want to go out there and I want to fight the money fights.”
Woodley’s requests could potentially put the UFC in a tough spot, but when you consider the fact the organization is putting together a Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson middleweight title fight simply because it’s marketable and the new champ Bisping wants it, it would be hypocritical of them not to accommodate Woodley’s wishes, wouldn’t it?
With that in mind here are the top four options for Woodley’s first title defence and the likelihood these fights come together…
Nick Diaz (highly unlikely)
Woodley only absorbed three significant strikes against Lawler and did not receive any medical suspensions so he could conceivably be ready to compete on the Aug. 20 card. This is wishful thinking on Woodley’s part.
Diaz told TMZ he’d be willing to fight Woodley at UFC 202 but only if the UFC made him an offer he couldn’t refuse and that he doubts that’s going to happen. Diaz has officially served his 18-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission stemming from a failed drug test – he tested positive for marijuana metabolites after his UFC 183 fight with Anderson Silva – and is looking to make a comeback.
Diaz hasn’t won a fight since beating B.J. Penn at UFC 137 in 2011. Also, Diaz still needs to pay off the remainder of his $100,000 fine that accompanied his suspension before he can return.
Despite his inactivity, the former Strikeforce champion has gained even more popularity during his latest layoff. Diaz, who turned 33 Tuesday, told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto he plans on weighing his options before fighting again.
“We’re going to have to see, sit down and have a look at what fans want to see,” Diaz said. “I’m on top right now. I’m on top of this game. There ain’t no ‘giving’ me a shot. I’m giving somebody a shot. If anybody’s getting a shot, somebody’s getting a shot against me, because I’m the guy to beat. These guys aren’t doing any money fighting each other, and until they do some money fighting each other, I’m not interested. I’m looking for the right guy to make the right show, do the right numbers. Then we can talk.”
Georges St-Pierre (plausible)
St-Pierre told MMAFighting that “yes” he would be interested in a bout with Woodley.
The Canadian went on record last month saying he’s ready to finally return to the sport he walked away from nearly three years ago.
“The clock is running. I’m not getting any younger,” St-Pierre said. “I’m in the peak of my career and if there is a shot, there is another goal, another run, I better do it and do it quick, because it is time to do it now.”
It has been widely reported and sources have told Sportsnet that if and when St-Pierre returns to the cage he wants to be a part of the UFC’s first event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12.
There is also still the issue of reworking St-Pierre’s contract since he took a leave of absence prior to the UFC’s Reebok sponsorship deal. St-Pierre’s affiliation with Under Armour – a Reebok competitor – is a potential stumbling block in his return. The 35-year-old hasn’t fought since a split decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013. It marked his 12th straight victory and ninth consecutive title defence.
Stephen Thompson (realistic if Diaz/GSP fights don’t come to fruition)
It’s unfortunate “Wonderboy” could end up getting passed over here. He is undeniably the top contender in the division at the moment, has won seven in a row and outclassed Rory MacDonald – who holds a dominant win over Woodley – in his last outing in June. Woodley sat out 18 months to ensure he got his title shot and it worked out for him. It’s not ludicrous to say Thompson is the best welterweight in the UFC right now. Maybe he takes a page out of Woodley’s playbook and waits it out.
Robbie Lawler (unlikely)
If Jose Aldo, Cain Velasquez and Holly Holm were denied immediate rematches when they lost their belts, don’t expect Lawler to receive one. Lawler gave us one of the most memorable title runs in UFC history – with incredible five-round wars and several Fight of the Year candidates – but his loss to Woodley was too one-sided for fans to crave a rematch right away.
Another option could be the winner of UFC Vancouver headliner Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia, but the four options above would have to fall through for the UFC to seriously consider Condit or Maia.
