Champ Tyron Woodley to Demian Maia: 'Pack a lunch if you think you're going to jump on my back'

Demian Maia has been able to use his exceptional ground game to get through seven consecutive UFC opponents. A showdown with welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley is next, but the champ has no plans to fall into the same trap as others.

Maia (25-6 MMA, 19-6 UFC) solidified the next shot at Woodley’s (17-3-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) belt when he outworked Jorge Masvidal (32-12 MMA, 9-5 UFC) to a split-decision at UFC 211, which took place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas with the main card on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass.

Despite 25 UFC appearances, Maia continues to perplex opponents with his elite grappling arsenal, but Woodley doesn’t appear to be threatened. He said he’s faced similar challenges to the Brazilian in the past and came out on the winning end every time.

“As we say at Roufusport at the end of practice, ‘They think they want some, but they don’t really want none,'” Woodley said on FS1’s UFC 211 post-fight show. “You guys have to recognize I have the highest takedown defense in the entire welterweight division, (and) second overall in the UFC. I’ve fought the Andre Galvaos of the world and I’ve also fought the Jake Shields. He’ll have to pack a lunch if he thinks he’s going to jump on my back like that and take me down like he did Jorge Masvidal and Carlos Condit.”

There was a strong argument Maia should have been granted a title shot following his first-round submission of former interim UFC champ Carlos Condit at UFC on FOX 21 this past August. However, Woodley fought Stephen Thompson to a draw at UFC 205 in November, and as a result the entire division was put on old.

Woodley beat Thompson by majority decision in the rematch at UFC 209 in March, and in the meantime Maia was offered a fight against Masvidal. He accepted, and pushed his divisional best winning streak to seven fights with the competitive decision over “Gamebred.”

It’s been a long road toward Maia fighting for the belt, and when given the chance to send a message directly to Woodley, the always humble fighter was nothing but respectful.

“I feel, Tyron, now it’s time for us to meet,” Maia said. “Before it was postponed a lot when you fought ‘Wonderboy’ (Thompson), and then you fought ‘Wonderboy’ again. Now I’m ready, and I hope you give me the chance. Thanks.”

For complete coverage of UFC 211, check out the UFC Events section of the site.