Tyron Woodley: 'I think we're seeing a shift change' in who gets title shots

It looks like, at long last, Tyron Woodley is going to get a shot at the welterweight title.

And the funny thing is, he may be a little big conflicted about that – at least in the way of the terminology.

“I don’t want a title shot,” Woodley today told MMAjunkie Radio. “That’s the most ridiculous thing (fighters say): ‘I want a title shot, I want a title shot.’ That means you want a chance to fight in a title fight and lose. You just want the shot to fight in it. I want the shot to show you I’m the best in the world.”

Woodley (15-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has been targeted for a crack at welterweight champ Robbie Lawler (27-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC) this summer, likely at UFC 201 or UFC 202, promotion President Dana White recently said.

If that comes to fruition, it will be Woodley’s first fight in more than 18 months. In Jaunary 2015, he beat Kelvin Gastelum. He was scheduled to fight Johny Hendricks this past October at UFC 192 in Houston, but Hendricks had weight-cutting issues, needed to be hospitalized, and the fight was scrapped.

At UFC 195 in January, Carlos Condit fought Lawler for the title and lost a split decision. But now, at least per White, it finally appears to be Woodley’s turn.

“That felt good that it was put out there that this was something in the conversation,” Woodley said.

Woodley believes he’s the most deserving contender for the belt. But at the same time, he knows how title shots sometimes are given – and that it’s not always who’s the most deserving.

“I could’ve argued I need a title shot after I beat Carlos Condit,” he said. “Nobody deserves a title shot. At times, it’s given based on entertainment, pay-per-view buys, needle pushers, people who talk crap. Sometimes it’s given based on a person blowing up in the octagon to warrant a title.

“I think we’re seeing a shift change. Look at Amanda Nunes getting a shot against (women’s bantamweight champion) Miesha Tate. Look at Eddie Alvarez getting a shot against (lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos). I think it’s a shift, and I think I fit in that category, as well.”

And while Woodley understands why someone may get a shot based on talking crap, for instance, and not based purely on what happens inside the cage, he also said sometimes fighters aren’t coming off as superstars because they haven’t been put on a platform to become a superstar.

“You have to be given the opportunity to become a superstar,” he said. “Carlos Condit, (Georges St-Pierre) begging for a title shot – none of those people became a superstar until they were given the opportunity to be a superstar. Just give me the chance. I don’t need a lot of help. I need an eighth, a 16th of the marketing of a Ronda Rousey or a Conor McGregor – just give me that and I can take it the rest of the way.”

Dates, locations or official headliners have not yet been announced for UFC 201 or UFC 202.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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