While the UFC’s welterweight division remains an utter pileup behind champion Johny Hendricks, it seems like a potential top contender bout is being lined up for June. According to Ariel Helwani, speaking on Fox Sports 1’s UFC Tonight, a bout between Canadian welterweight sensation Rory MacDonald and heavy-hitting Tyron Woodley is in the works for UFC 174.
Via Twitter:
Tyron Woodley vs. Rory MacDonald is in the works for UFC 174 in Canada.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) April 2, 2014
Both fighters, along with Nick Diaz and Hector Lombard, could be in contention for Johny Hendricks’ first welterweight title defense. The matchup, while not promised to be a top contender bout, has all the makings of one.
Rory MacDonald was a long-hyped potential opponent for long-time champion (and possible greatest mixed martial artist of all time) Georges St-Pierre. While the bout was always something of a pipe dream due to the two fighters being close friends and training partners at the Tristar Gym in Quebec, St-Pierre’s semi-retirement opened the doors for a MacDonald title run.
Tyron Woodley, meanwhile, became one of the more enticing fighters in the UFC when he demolished Jay Hieron in his UFC debut. While he dropped his second UFC bout to Jake Shields via a close split decision, he has bounced back with impressive performances over Josh Koscheck and, more recently, Carlos Condit.
While neither fighter, at this time, is logically the top contender (that honor belongs to Hector Lombard), both are undeniable talents. With Johny Hendricks currently shelved due to an arm injury until this fall, it’s hard to imagine that the winner of this fight won’t be given a shot at the belt…assuming it isn’t a dud, of course.
UFC 174 goes down in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 14. Stay tuned with Bleacher Report for more details on the card as they become available.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com