Hyllningarna för Stephen Thompsons insats i lördagens match mot Johny Hendricks har varit massiva. Många har gått så långt och hävdar att Thompson borde vara näste man på tur att möta den regerande welterviktsmästaren Robbie Lawler. En som dock inte tycker att Thompson är redo för en titelmatch är Tyron Woodley.
I det senaste avsnittet av sin podcast berättar Woodley att han anser sig själv fortfarande vara den rättmätige titelutmanaren.
I had to get off my Twitter. People telling me, ’You haven’t fought for a year. [Thompson] went out there and beat the No. 1 guy.’ OK, why didn’t I beat the No. 1 guy? [Hendricks’] lack of commitment to the sport and that bout [at UFC 192]. I’m starting to think he was scared to fight. I never believed that, but the fact that he didn’t even make it to the scale, it forfeited my opportunity to have a performance like that, to do what I’ve trained to do.
Should I be penalized for that? I’ve been the only guy that’s been professional, making weight, going out there and fighting, taking short notice fights, doing favors for the UFC. Because [Thompson] fights the person I was supposed to fight he should jump over me? That’s a joke. That’s kind of comical.
Vidare berättar Woodley att Thompson borde ställas mot Rory MacDonald härnäst och en vinst mot MacDonald skulle kunna resultera i en titelmatch för Thompson.
He went out and got his damn name out there Saturday night when he roughed-up Johny. He didn’t earn a title shot, but he put himself in position. I feel like he should fight one more fight, maybe against Rory MacDonald, maybe Carlos Condit. Another long striker so we can see how he does with a striker who can deal with that. Then he’s ready to roll.
