Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley recently stated he would not consider fighting Kamaru Usman on 24 hours notice should Darren Till not make weight for their upcoming title fight at UFC 228 on Sept. 8, 2018.
Instead, he’d simply face “The Gorilla” in what would be a five-round, non-title fight.
Till, however, would take the other route as he stated during a recent open workout and media scrum in Las Vegas, Nevada, saying he would put his belt on the line against “The Nigerian Nightmare” if he were in Woodley’s shoes.
“We all have different mentalities on this. If I was in Tyron’s shoes and Tyron missed weight, I’d fight Usman. When you say you’re the best, and you believe you’re the best, you can fight anyone. I’d fight him,” Till said (transcript via MMA Fighting).
Saying it is one thing, delivering is quite another.
Nevertheless, Till does see where “The Chosen One” is coming from, but can’t help but to take a small dig at his upcoming foe by labeling him a “safe champion.”
“I understand where Tyron is coming from. He’s training for a 6-foot-2 guy — a big middleweight — strong power, good defense, puts pressure on…his whole game gets changed for a guy who is similar to himself in size, wrestling background and power,” he said.
“I can understand where he’s coming from, but he’s being, shall we say, a safe champion. He has reasons behind it.”
Hopefully, it won’t come to a non-title affair, as Till is confident he will hit his mark come weigh-in day, take the title after defeating Woodley, then go and enjoy a big cheeseburger for his troubles.
And he will also have something to say to all of his doubters.