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Wonderboy: Tyron Woodley Has Been Begging For Money Fights

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For the second time in his UFC career, Stephen Thompson will compete for a belt on March 4. Although he didn’t lose against Tyron Woodley during their UFC 205 clash, ‘Wonderboy’ also didn’t have his hand raised. When the resulting draw was (eventually) read out, talk of a rematch was immediately in motion. Having gone five hard rounds with ‘The Chosen One’ with no clear winner, a second go seemed the obvious option, maybe the only one. Soon after that November night in New York, the champion threw some other ideas out there.

Chucking his name in the hat for fights against Nick Diaz and Conor McGregor, to name a few, Woodley kept us all guessing. Would Thompson really be denied a second crack of the whip? As it turns out, no, but there were reports that Diaz had indeed been offered a fight against the champion. Speaking to our good friends Submission Radio, ‘Wonderboy’ details the timeline of events leading to the UFC 209 booking, and also the heat surrounding the rivalry with Woodley.

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Wonderboy Says Woodley Is Entitled

“I didn’t have to work too hard to get this fight. I know he was talking about McGregor, St-Pierre and Bisping. If it’s a draw, you always run it back. I was surprised when he was talking about other people, he was talking about all these guys. I got the contract before the Christmas break and sent it right back. Then I posted a picture of the contract on Twitter, and I think it hit a nerve. He told me later that he was going to sign and announce the fight, and that I had kinda jumped the gun by announcing it.”

“I laughed (when Woodley said I was entitled). There’s not an entitled bone in my body. I didn’t ask the UFC for the contract, they sent it to me. If anything it seems like he’s entitled, begging for the money fight and riding these other guy’s coat tails.”

Racism Comments

During a number of interviews since UFC 205, Tyron Woodley has claimed to be the worst treated UFC champion. Citing his race as the reason for alleged lesser treatment from his employers, ‘T-Wood’ has sparked some tense debates. Responding to these claims, Thompson says he doesn’t see Woodley as the most hated champ:

“The guy hasn’t been champion long enough to even feel this way. To me it seems like the most hated champion would be Bisping. (Tyron) hasn’t defended the title like he’s supposed to. When it comes to race, that’s stupid. One of the highest paid athletes in the UFC is Jon Jones, Anderson Silva too.”

“He’s focusing on that, and he should be focusing on the task at hand. I don’t want to fight a distracted Tyron Woodley. I don’t see what goes on from his point of view, during negotiations, maybe I’m missing something. From my side, it’s not necessary. I know the fans were more on my side because of him denying me, he was asking for a money fight.”

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Michael Bisping: I Want The Biggest Fight Possible

Current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping had an incredible 2016, where he was a strong contender for “Fighter of the Year.” Bisping beat Anderson Silva by decision in February, won the middleweight title in a rematch against Luke Rockhold in June, and then got his revenge against Dan Henderson in October. In a near 13-year professional fighting

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Current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping had an incredible 2016, where he was a strong contender for “Fighter of the Year.”

Bisping beat Anderson Silva by decision in February, won the middleweight title in a rematch against Luke Rockhold in June, and then got his revenge against Dan Henderson in October. In a near 13-year professional fighting career, last year was undoubtedly his best so far.

Unfortunately 2017 hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts for “The Count,” as it was recently reported that Bisping had suffered a knee injury and would be sidelined until May as a result. Speaking to Champions.co, Bisping revealed the extent of his injury and when he is likely to return:

“First and foremost, I am still UFC middleweight champion of the world, I have to defend that belt, simple as that. Dana actually- Dana White, UFC president- actually contacted me and spoke about a fight recently but I’ve been having a lot of issues with my knee so I’ve got to have a knee surgery. Maybe around end of April, May something like that, I’ll take a fight.”

One person who will be especially unhappy with this news is Yoel Romero, who cemented his number one contender spot when he brutally KO’d Chris Weidman at UFC 205 in November. There were rumors Bisping would defend his belt against Romero at UFC 208, but now that is clearly off the table. More unsettling news for Romero is that Bisping also said that he wants the “biggest money fight possible,” and whether it’s Romero or not, he doesn’t care.:

“I want the biggest fight I can get. I don’t mind facing No. 1 contenders but at this stage of my career I’ve fought the best guys forever. I want the biggest fight it can possibly be. By biggest, I mean the biggest money generating fight I can possibly have. I feel I deserve that. I’ve earned that. So whether that’s Yoel Romero, then great. But if it ain’t Yoel Romero, if it’s Anderson Silva, great. I know he’s piped up again lately. If it’s GSP [Georges St-Pierre]- I don’t care who the opponent is. I’m not bothered by any opponent. I am the champion of the world and I will take on all comers, but I want the biggest fight possible.”

With middleweight contenders Jacare Souza, Weidman, and now Gegard Mousasi all due to fight inside the next three months, Romero may have to step inside the Octagon again to prove that he deserved the next shot at the middleweight crown.

Bisping will have a list of killers awaiting him when he returns from injury, and whether he fights Romero, Silva Souza, Weidman, Mousasi, GSP, or Tyron Woodley it’s guaranteed to be a tough fight.

At this point in his career, however, it seems “The Count” simply wants the biggest payday. Who would that be against?

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Nate Diaz Explains Why He’s Getting Boxing License

While many mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are wondering when former UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz will return, his younger brother Nate is apparently also looking to get back inside the Octagon. The Diaz brothers recently attended this past weekend’s (Sat., January 21, 2017) Bellator 170 event, where LA Times’ Lance Pugmire got the

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The Diaz brothers recently attended this past weekend’s (Sat., January 21, 2017) Bellator 170 event, where LA Times’ Lance Pugmire got the opportunity to catch up with the Stockton Boys. When asked about his hiatus from fighting action since the conclusion of his second bout with rival Conor McGregor at UFC 202, Diaz claims the promotion is ‘putting him on the shelf,’ which is why he’s attempting to get his boxing license in Nevada:

“I know what this is: I’m being put on the shelf,” Diaz said. “That’s why I’m trying to get a boxing license (in Nevada).”

“No one in MMA wants it,” he said. “No one says they want a big-deal fight against me. If someone wants to fight, then let’s make a big deal.”

Pugmire then texted UFC President Dana White to inquire about when the younger Diaz may see Octagon action again, to which White responded that he hasn’t heard from him since August:

“Nate said the only fight he wants is Conor … I haven’t heard a word from him [since August]. Usually when guys want a fight, they call.”

When presented with the possibility that Diaz would like to hear from the promotion first, White simply responded with a rolling eyes emoji.

It’s highly likely Diaz won’t fight again until his trilogy bout with ‘The Notorious One;’ however, with McGregor set to take a lengthy period of time off to enjoy the birth of his first child, perhaps a bout between the winner of the interim lightweight title bout featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson would be a possibility.

While Diaz was adamant he wants to remain active, his older brother Nick stated his return to the Octagon is coming “pretty soon”. This comes after reports that Diaz declined a welterweight title bout with Tyron Woodley and former champ Robbie Lawler.

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Stephen Thompson: Tyron Woodley Was His Best At UFC 205 – I Wasn’t

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson will run it back in the main event of UFC 209 from Las Vegas this March, after their initial contest in the co-main event of last year’s UFC 205 ended in a majority draw. After five rounds of great mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, there was no

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After five rounds of great mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, there was no definitive winner in the eyes of the judges after the 25-minute title bout, and the call for an immediate rematch begun before either man could exit the Octagon. Woodley nearly finished the bout in the fourth round with a deep guillotine choke, but somehow ‘Wonderboy’ miraculously survived and ended the round on top.

Thompson recently joined the UFC Unfiltered podcast with Matt Sera and Jim Norton (via MMA Mania) to discuss the upcoming rematch, stating that while Woodley was at his best that night in New York, he wasn’t and failed to ‘pull the trigger’ during the 170-pound title fight:

“I felt like I could’ve gone another three rounds after that,” said Thompson. “I felt fine, I felt great. I just didn’t put out enough, just didn’t do it. I didn’t pull the trigger and I’ve been beating myself up about it ever since.”

Knowing he wasn’t at his best the first time around and believing ‘The Chosen One’ gave it everything he had, Thompson has a new sense of confidence heading into his rematch with Woodley in Vegas:

“It fuels me to know that I wasn’t at my best, while Tyron was at his best, he hit me with his best shots, had a deep guillotine choke on me and still couldn’t finish me,” said “Wonderboy.”

“So that gives me the fuel and fire to get out there and do it again. To train as hard as I can knowing that,” he said.

Woodley and Thompson will meet in the main event of UFC 209 live on pay-per-view (PPV) for the UFC welterweight title, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 4, 2017.

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Stephen Thompson Downplays Woodley’s Racism Remarks

UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and No. 1-ranked Stephen Thompson put on one of the best 170-pound title bouts in recent memory, when they collided in the co-main event of UFC 205 this past November at Madison Square Garden. When all was said and done in New York City, however, no clear winner given after

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When all was said and done in New York City, however, no clear winner given after the bout, as the judges ruled the contest a majority draw decision. Now ‘The Chosen One’ and ‘Wonderboy’ will collide once more to determine who the true king of the UFC’s welterweight division is, and it’ll all go down in the main event of UFC 209 this March.

Recently Woodley has stated that he feels he’s been treated harshly by fans and the UFC due to his skin color, something that Thompson tells MMA Junkie just doesn’t make sense given the success of other African-American fighters in the promotion:

“Jon Jones, one of the biggest stars in the UFC at the time,” Thompson said. “Anderson Silva. … He’s the GOAT. I’m looking at these fighters, and to me, (they) haven’t been treated any differently.

“But I haven’t seen (Woodley’s) side. I haven’t been around him, and haven’t seen what’s going on with the UFC. But who doesn’t know Tyron?”

‘Wonderboy’ would go on to urge Woodley not to focus on anything other than their fight in March, as he wants to fight the very best version of the champ when they step into the Octagon in Las Vegas:

“I’m looking at Tyron saying, ‘Focus on the fight. Just focus on the fight. Don’t worry about all this other stuff until after,’” he said. “Because I want to fight the best Tyron Woodley.”

Woodley and Thompson will meet in the main event of UFC 209 live on pay-per-view (PPV) for the UFC welterweight title, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 4, 2017.

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Tyron Woodley Blasts UFC For Making Him Rematch “Wonderboy” Over Diaz

Tyron Woodley will once again put his UFC welterweight title on the line against top contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, as the two are set to rematch in the main event of March 4’s UFC 209 from Las Vegas, Nevada. The two men first fought at UFC 205 last November, going back-and-forth for five rounds in

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While the rematch certainly makes sense, Woodley seemed to be more interested in ‘money fights’ with Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz rather than fighting Thompson again. In fact, Woodley thinks the UFC ‘missed’ an opportunity by not booking against Diaz at UFC 209:

“I think it’s a missed opportunity for the UFC to push someone that is a legend for the sport,” Woodley told MMAFighting.com. “An all-time top five welterweight, someone I saw a lot in Strikeforce and always, it was more of a respect thing that, I think someone who has done that much for the sport, it was getting to the point where the platform was higher than the paycheck, he probably should have been able to fight.”

Diaz hasn’t competed since 2015 when he lost a decision to Anderson Silva, although it was later changed to a no-contest after both men failed drug tests. The Stockton native tested positive for Marijuana metabolites, leading the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to hand him a fine as well as an 18-month suspension. He is now clear to fight, however.

Despite Woodley’s interest in fighting Diaz, he will have to set his focus on “Wonderboy”, as the fight is a done deal. “The Chosen One” knew he would have to share the Octagon with Thompson again at some point, although he didn’t feel as if it needed to be an immediate rematch:

“It’s my goal to be the best welterweight ever,” Woodley said. “I always knew I’d have to fight him again, but I didn’t feel obligated to have to fight him next. Even if I had held out, or took another fight, or he fought somebody else, I knew I’d have to fight him again, he’s a high-level guy and he got here for a reason so he’d probably beat the other person to get here. So I knew i would fight him again but I didn’t feel I had to fight him next.”

While Diaz is certainly a big star and a fan favorite, although he hasn’t won a fight since 2011. Should the Stockton native have received a title shot upon his return, or did the UFC make the right call by booking Woodley-Thompson II?

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