Wonderboy, GSP, Diaz? Who Should Woodley Face Next
By now you’ve probably seen the
video of Tyron Woodley telling Stephen Thompson that he isn’t interested in
putting his newly acquired belt on the line versus “Wonderboy”, stating he is
interested in big money fights, mentioning Nick Diaz as a potential opponent.
T-Wood dropped that bomb on Thompson, just moments after dropping Robbie Lawler,
in the first round, to become the Welterweight Champion. On the UFC 201 Post
Fight Show on FS-1 Thompson awkwardly asked Woodley for the title shot
(Thompson previously picked Lawler to win the fight). Woodley instead suggested
Thompson face Lawler in a number one contenders fight.
It’s
not likely that Nick Diaz will get a title shot following a suspension after
testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his fight with Anderson
Silva at UFC 183 (1/31/15). The suspension, originally: five years and
$165,000, was reduced following a Diaz appeal, to 18 months and 100,000 by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission. The suspension was lifted on August 1st,
2016, so Diaz is eligible, but having lost his last two fights at 170lbs (St-Pierre
3/16/13 and Condit 2/4/12) and the loss to Silva, ruled a No Contest (following
a failed pre-fight drug test by Silva) it will be hard to sell Nick as a worthy
challenger.
Enter
GSP. In December of 2013 George St-Pierre, the UFC’s most dominant Welterweight
Champion of all time, announced that he would vacate his title and take some time
off from the sport to handle personal affairs. According to Tyron Woodley,
St-Pierre is interested in a return to fight for the belt with the new champ. A
fight with GSP, returning from a three year hiatus, will provide Woodley with
his best option for a big money fight. St-Pierre is one of the sport’s biggest
draws of all time and it would be difficult to suggest he doesn’t deserve it.
GSP beat his last twelve Welterweight opponents. The last time he lost was to, The Ultimate Fighter 4 winner, Matt Sera
at UFC 69 4/7/2007. At Thirty-five years old, St-Pierre is still young enough
to improve on his 25-2 MMA record.
Since
entering the Octagon at UFC 143 (2/4/12) Stephen Thompson has gone 7-1 with
five TKO/KO wins. Three of those finishes have come by head kick. As the name
would imply, “Wonderboy” is impressive. He ended Jake Ellenberger’s night with
a spinning hook kick (7/12/15) and seven months later TKO’d former WW Champ,
Johny Hendricks with a first round wheel kick at UFC FN 2/6/16. In his last
affair, Thompson earned a five round Unanimous Decision over Rory MacDonald,
proving he has the endurance to compete for the strap.
The
Diaz fight won’t likely materialize. Just about everyone not named Thompson
would prefer to see Woodley face GSP, but if St-Pierre decides against a
comeback, “Wonderboy” is likely the next challenger to the 170lbs crown.
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