Woodley preparing himself 'to be heartbroken again'

[Wild]

For three long months, Tyron Woodley was the UFC's official No. 1 welterweight contender in waiting. But the fight game tends to have its own mind when it comes to matters like these, and after Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit set Las Vegas ablaze with an instant classic Saturday night at UFC 195, Woodley knows he may have some work to do if he wants to preserve his spot as the next in line.

"Even before the fifth round, the way that the fight was going, I already was thinking, ‘goddamnit, they're about to do this fight again,'" Woodley said Monday on The MMA Hour. "We are in the era of the rematch. People want to see a rematch every other weekend. How many rematches have you seen?"

"In this situation, unfortunately, (there's) a little bit of damn controversy. But there's more variables than just that. Carlos Condit is mentioning retiring, so there's two ways that could go. He could retire and then it's obvious who's fighting next -- this man right here -- or he can go up to Dana White and be like, ‘hey man, if I don't fight my fight for the title, I'm going to retire.' And what do you think they're going to do? They're going to line his pockets and they're going to make it happen."

"The money comes with the champion's belt," Woodley added. "That's no hidden secret. I'm trying to change my family's life. I ain't trying to just keep collecting checks and a few months later scrape again. I'm trying to secure longevity for my family, wealth for my family. I'm trying to leave a legacy. The goal is to be a champion, it's not to be a contender. So these are contender fights. I feel like I've done enough to have already fought for the world title before, so why should I have to do more?"

"So with that said, I have not talked with them (the UFC). I think they know the right thing to do. Some things gotta sort out, and I'm also logical. I know that people want to see Carlos Condit vs. Robbie Lawler 2, and I'm just preparing myself to be heartbroken again. But I'm telling you, if get heartbroken, it's going to get somebody hurt. It will get somebody hurt real bad."

LINK: Tyron Woodley wants Robbie Lawler title fight, but ‘preparing myself to be heartbroken again’

 

[Greek777]

I definitely feel for Woodley.. but I really think a rematch is the way to go

They gave Cain a rematch after being beaten up on the feet and submitted in a fight that wasn't even close. They'll probably give Ronda a rematch after her beating.

If anyone has deserved a rematch out of all the title fights in the last year, it's Condit. I really hope he gets it, too. That fight was amazing and I'd love to see it go down again.

 

[BeardOfKnowledge]

For three long months, Tyron Woodley was the UFC's official No. 1 welterweight contender in waiting. But the fight game tends to have its own mind when it comes to matters like these, and after Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit set Las Vegas ablaze with an instant classic Saturday night at UFC 195, Woodley knows he may have some work to do if he wants to preserve his spot as the next in line.

"Even before the fifth round, the way that the fight was going, I already was thinking, ‘goddamnit, they're about to do this fight again,'" Woodley said Monday on The MMA Hour. "We are in the era of the rematch. People want to see a rematch every other weekend. How many rematches have you seen?"

"In this situation, unfortunately, (there's) a little bit of damn controversy. But there's more variables than just that. Carlos Condit is mentioning retiring, so there's two ways that could go. He could retire and then it's obvious who's fighting next -- this man right here -- or he can go up to Dana White and be like, ‘hey man, if I don't fight my fight for the title, I'm going to retire.' And what do you think they're going to do? They're going to line his pockets and they're going to make it happen."

"The money comes with the champion's belt," Woodley added. "That's no hidden secret. I'm trying to change my family's life. I ain't trying to just keep collecting checks and a few months later scrape again. I'm trying to secure longevity for my family, wealth for my family. I'm trying to leave a legacy. The goal is to be a champion, it's not to be a contender. So these are contender fights. I feel like I've done enough to have already fought for the world title before, so why should I have to do more?"

"So with that said, I have not talked with them (the UFC). I think they know the right thing to do. Some things gotta sort out, and I'm also logical. I know that people want to see Carlos Condit vs. Robbie Lawler 2, and I'm just preparing myself to be heartbroken again. But I'm telling you, if get heartbroken, it's going to get somebody hurt. It will get somebody hurt real bad."

LINK: Tyron Woodley wants Robbie Lawler title fight, but ‘preparing myself to be heartbroken again’

I like Woodley, and would like to see him fight Lawler, but he's taking some real creative liberties. I don't believe he was promised a title shot (like Edgar) and he certainly hasn't won a title eliminator. It's actually been about a year since he last fought. If I were him I'd be more focused on just getting back in the cage than worrying about title shots.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Poor Woodley. Of all the rematches that have been granted here lately, this fight was the only one close enough to actually warrant one.

 

[La Paix]

It's almost funny how fighters are expecting disappointment from their employer at this point. Nobody even knows what to do to secure a title shot and that the end goal in thier career as fighters, gotta suck.

 

[Greek777]

Same with Stipe. I think Overeem or Rothwell deserves the shot before he does. Stipe is coming off only 2 wins straight now. He lost to JDS. Yet Overeem knocked him out, first guy to ever stop JDS with strikes, which is a really big deal. Yes Stipe had a war with JDS, but he still didn't get the nod or finish him, whereas Reem did.

Overeem lost to Rothwell, and Rothwell is getting passed over. Not sure why Stipe is absolutely convinced he deserves the shot over Roth/Reem. Hope he gets it though, I like him and he seems cool. Just, rankings wise, not sure if he truly is the rightful next contender.

I do know that anyone OTHER than Cain should be getting the next shot though. Shame that rematch happened right away. Cain has fought like, 4 people in half a decade.

 

[BeardOfKnowledge]

It's almost funny how fighters are expecting disappointment from their employer at this point. Nobody even knows what to do to secure a title shot and that the end goal in thier career as fighters, gotta suck.

When you're talking about Edgar, I completely agree. I'm not sure Woodley falls into that category though.

 

[Greek777]

Stipe was going nuts before the AA fight claiming he was being passed over

yet he'd only beaten Gonzaga, Maldonaldo in the biggest squash match ever put together by the UFC, lost to JDS, and then beat Hunt in a kinda boring fight.

Before AA he was demanding it and it made no sense. After destroying AA, he definitely climbs up the ranks, but I don't think he is THE only guy out there that is deserving. Similar with Woodley. Yeah he beat Condit, but that was more due to the injury in the fight. It's not like Woodley has taken out of a murderer's row of top WWs back to back to back or anything.

 

[Greek777]

When you're talking about Edgar, I completely agree. I'm not sure Woodley falls into that category though.

Word. Out of all these guys - Woodley, Stipe, Edgar and others - Edgar is BY FAR the most deserving of a shot, and the only one I'd say is truly being screwed over if he doesn't get it.

 

[La Paix]

When you're talking about Edgar, I completely agree. I'm not sure Woodley falls into that category though.

Edgar, Woodly, Reem, Rothwell, Maia.....I could go on. I'm not saying I think all these guys should be next but none of them or any other fighter not named Conor or Ronda know what's clear as far as getting a title shot. Damian's post fight rant about a clear path was good IMO. I find it ridiculous that so many fighters are just going along waiting for their lucky time to come along and don't have a confirmed way to secure the big fights.

 

[aghof]

they did pretty well announce that Woodley was getting the next shot a few months back... I guess his fight against Hendricks was considered a title eliminator and he "got the shot" by default.

UFC: Tyron Woodley gets the next welterweight title shot

 

[Joemacka]

Woodley doesnt deserve a title fight imo. His performance against Kelvin wasnt good and alot of people thought he lost. Its not his fault Hendricks couldnt make weight but he needs to fight Maia in a number contender bout.

 

[Greek777]

they did pretty well announce that Woodley was getting the next shot a few months back... I guess his fight against Hendricks was considered a title eliminator and he "got the shot" by default.

UFC: Tyron Woodley gets the next welterweight title shot

Man. You think the UFC would learn by now to stop doing this. I get that they don't give a single shit, at all. But they really have to be burning bridges/trust of their own fighters. So many guys are "promised" the shot and passed over. Dana "promised" Stipe this weekend, and I guarantee you he is not getting the next shot.

Hopefully this leads to more fighters testing out the free agent market and going elsewhere. MMA desperately needs a strong, actually competitive #2 org in order for fighters to have better leverage and chance of getting paid serious money.

In the last year (hell, the last 6 months) alone -

Tate - promised a shot in public multiple times, is passed over without even being notified

Edgar - promised a shot god knows how many times, to the point a UFC executive was bringing him into the cage to confront Conor post Aldo KO, and Dana actually stopped it while it was happening. More than likely, Edgar will not fight for the belt next.

Woodley - promised the shot after Hendricks missed weight and couldn't fight

Stipe - promised the shot last weekend

I am almost positive none of those people are getting a title shot in their next fight, except MAYBE Miesha, if the Holm vs Miesha rumors are true. Still, she was passed up by Holm in the first place. I think Holm vs Ronda was obviously the better fight to make at the time, but Dana promised up and down IN PUBLIC Tate was next in line if she beat Eye. Then she does, and they just go "nah, we changed our mind". Then, they don't even tell Miesha, and she finds out by watching it on TV. That is seriously fucked.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Poor Woodley. Of all the rematches that have been granted here lately, this fight was the only one close enough to actually warrant one.

Exactly. I scored it for Condit as did most of the world... so rematch is warranted though much rather have the judging fixed somehow.

Woodley beat Carlos and Hendricks ate himself out of a fight... feel bad for him.

 

[Greek777]

Woodley beat Carlos, but the injury Carlos suffered played a massive part in that. I understand that happens in a fight, and if there was no ref there, it's Carlos' problem he's hurt and would get beat up for getting hurt. But in a fight without Carlos getting injured vs Woodley, I think Carlos would school him.

 

[maurice]

Condit has lost 4 of his last 6 fights. 2 losses were title shots. 1 loss was a title eliminator. The other loss was to Woodley. I'm not a fan of immediate rematches, but they generally happen when the champ loses not the contender.

Edgar certainly earned another title shot by KOing Mendes, but he too already had a title shot and lost. The other guys we're talking about are itching to get their first shot .

 

[Greek777]

Yeah but records don't always have to tell the whole story. Condit just went toe to toe with the champ for an entire fight and arguably won. That is the kinda performance that deserves a rematch. Cain's, for example, does not. He got beaten in every way possible, and was out for almost 2 years before hand. The division was put on hold because of him.. and now it is, again. We are seeing the same matchup yet again when NO ONE wants to. Whereas 99% people want the Robbie/Condit fight.

 

[Greek777]

Also, when Shogun fought Machida and should have taken his belt, he was given a rematch instantly. So, it doesn't always have to be a case where only the champion gets a rematch if he loses a close fight. It can easily go both ways, with a rematch happening due to the challenger seen as being the real winner by the majority of people..which is the case with Condit.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

I definitely feel for Woodley.. but I really think a rematch is the way to go

They gave Cain a rematch after being beaten up on the feet and submitted in a fight that wasn't even close. They'll probably give Ronda a rematch after her beating.

If anyone has deserved a rematch out of all the title fights in the last year, it's Condit. I really hope he gets it, too. That fight was amazing and I'd love to see it go down again.

Cain and Ronda were both champs that got beat, Condit is 1-2 in his last 3 fights and was only a interim champ years ago. You cant even compare those 3 when debating rematches. Bad decisions happen all the time and leople dont get rematches because of it.9

 

[Jonny Quest]

They need to figure this shit out.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Cain and Ronda were both champs that got beat, Condit is 1-2 in his last 3 fights and was only a interim champ years ago. You cant even compare those 3 when debating rematches. Bad decisions happen all the time and leople dont get rematches because of it.9

They used to.........
UFC used to always give controversial results a rematch.
Now they give rematches for the most likely to make the most $$$

 

[Robbie Hart]

I think they should match him up against marquardt again and if he's doesn't get slobber knocked, then maybe he's ready.

 

[maurice]

Maia or Woodley?

 

[BeardOfKnowledge]

Out of curiosity, how does anyone here see Woodley winning anyways? I don't see him taking Robbie down, and trading with him is a losing proposition.