UFC champ Woodley threatens ‘delusional’ Thompson over contender status: ‘Maybe I’ll give Demian Maia the shot’

Tyron Woodley’s time at the top of the welterweight division has been anything but quiet. It all started even before he had the belt around his waist, with a series of intentionally dull interviews, as Woodley claimed he didn’t want to over-promote his title fight with Robbie Lawler.

Since winning the belt, Woodley has certainly become more interesting, and more vocal, if no less controversial. He was openly unenthused for his first title defense against Stephen Thompson, instead courting potential match-ups with Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz; bigger fights with bigger paydays.

He ended up fighting Thompson at UFC 205, to a draw as it turns out.

With neither man walking away the clear winner, it seemed only natural that a rematch would be the next step. But, if Woodley wasn’t enthusiastic for a fight with ‘Wonderboy’ the first time around, time doesn’t seem to have warmed him to the idea at all.

The two fighters took to Twitter recently, where Thompson called Woodley out for not signing on for a rematch. All of which ended in Woodley threatening to find another challenger, even if it wasn’t a bigger name (h/t to MMA Fighting).

Will the UFC let Woodley call the shots for who he fights? He’s been angling for big name opponents since winning the belt, but as of yet none of those plans have come to fruition. He also has yet to establish a track record as a top draw in the sport, although getting the co-main event for UFC 205 certainly put him in front of a lot of eyes.

The UFC has major financial goals for the next year and they’re going to need all the star power they can possibly draw on for the coming months. It remains to be seen whether Woodley can be a major part of that, and if his path to stardom means finding people to fight other than Stephen Thompson.