The co-main event of UFC 183 on Saturday night saw two top fighters square off, as Tyron Woodley looked to stop streaking prospect Kelvin Gastelum. It was considered a contender’s bout in the welterweight division, but it was changed to a catchweight bout of 180 pounds when Gastelum came in heavy.
The fight was closely contested, as Gastelum continued to show improvement despite his poor weight cut and probably not being 100 percent.
However, that would not be enough, as Woodley eked out a split decision, earning another big win on his resume.
So, where does Woodley go from here? Let’s look at three guys he could fight next.
Rick Story
Woodley has proved that his wrestling is great and his striking is powerful. However, how would he fare against a wrestler who is more technical on the feet and can wrestle with him?
Enter Rick Story.
Right now, Story is streaking like a drunk fan at a soccer game. This is most evident in his derailment of Gunnar Nelson, a fighter who was on the fast track to the top.
Story also had a recent fight against Woodley‘s most recent adversary, Gastelum. Though Story lost, it was a close bout that could have gone either way.
His move to the MMA Lab has brought him back to attention at 170 pounds. A bout with Woodley would show if he is continuing to improve or cannot shake the gatekeeper status.
Carlos Condit
Woodley already owns a win over Carlos Condit. However, that fight was marred by a knee injury that Condit suffered, and he hasn’t fought since.
The best part of this matchup is that it would give closure to their first encounter, where Woodley dominated early before it looked as if his pace was slowing. Condit‘s injury left a lot of question marks, and a rematch could serve as a serviceable main event on Fox Sports or Fight Pass.
Condit is extremely difficult to fight on the ground because of his aggressive style off his back. He is also a superior technician on the feet, which would continue to test Woodley upright.
This is a fight I want to see.
Tarec Saffiedine
Former Strikeforce title challenger versus the final Strikeforce champion. I like the sound of that.
When we look back in history, Woodley fought for the vacant Strikeforce title in a losing effort to Nate Marquardt. Then, Marquardt lost the title to Tarec Saffiedine.
Both men have improved greatly since those fights.
Saffiedine is tough to take down and has stinging leg kicks in his arsenal. Those kicks could soften up Woodley‘s legs and affect his takedowns.
Oh yeah, and it’s a rematch from a time when Saffiedine had yet to reach the peak in his career. It’s a chance for both fighters to show improvement and for Woodley to knock off another Top 10 fighter.
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