If Georges St-Pierre returns, Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson agree he should get immediate title shot

UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson might be fighting each other at UFC 205, but they can agree on who should be the next title challenger – Georges St-Pierre, if he rejoins the promotion.

Weighing the value of sport versus entertainment, Woodley today said the surging Damian Maia makes sense as the rightful contender. But putting the two together, there is no better candidate than the former champ.

“From an entertainment standpoint, and I guess you could say sport as well, because (St-Pierre) left as the champion, and he’s the greatest welterweight of all time,” Woodley (16-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) told MMAjunkie during a conference call in support of the Nov. 12 pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “If he comes back, as a gesture of respect, I don’t think he should have to fight one or two fights. I think he should come right in and fight for the title.”

Woodley’s position is no surprise given that he pushed to fight St-Pierre (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC) over Thompson (13-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) at UFC 205, arguing he deserved a chance to leverage the ex-champ’s box office muscle for a big payday.

When the promotion pushed back, indicating Thompson was the first choice, Woodley posted a text exchange with “Rush” to show he wasn’t the only one who agreed to the matchup.

So it can forever be broken! https://t.co/J6cZM1LbJJ—
Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) August 12, 2016

But even before that, Woodley, the No. 1 fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, said he was always deferential toward St-Pierre, who stepped away from the sport in 2013 after his ninth title defense, a decision win against Johny Hendricks.

Awaiting a title shot after an eliminator fight with Hendricks was scratched, Woodley said he was willing to show St-Pierre to the front of the line.

“When I was getting ready to fight Robbie (Lawler), it was known that Georges might come back, so (I was told) if Georges comes back, you’re going to have to fight another fight and he’s going to jump you,” Woodley said. “I knew that, and I was OK with that. I don’t think that should change for anybody. I think everybody should be understanding of that.”

The No. 2-ranked Thompson agreed with the champ. A former training partner of St-Pierre, the title challenger said he couldn’t argue against an immediate title shot.

“I’m right there with you, man,” Thompson said. “He is definitely one of the best guys who ever stepped into the octagon at welterweight.

“I have no idea of what’s going on, where he’s at in negotiations, if he’s coming back or what. He’s one of the reasons I got into the sport in the first place. I was training with him, helping with his fights, and that’s why I started MMA. Yeah man, give him that title shot.”

In recently declaring his free agency, St-Pierre seemed miles away from the UFC in renegotiating a deal to bring him back into the promotion. But a recent meeting with UFC President Dana White may have calmed the situation.

Still, the impasse means St-Pierre won’t be returning to the octagon any time soon. White shot down the prospect of a homecoming at UFC 206, which takes place in the ex-champ’s native Canada on Dec. 10.

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.