Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson has been left less than impressed by Tyron Woodley’s attitude since he won the welterweight title last month, and believes that he should be stripped of the belt if he refuses to fight him next.
Woodley had dismissed the idea of fighting current No.2 contender Thompson immediately after his title win at UFC 201, indicating that he wanted a ‘money fight’ instead with a bigger name like Nick Diaz or Georges St. Pierre.
However, ‘Wonderboy’ believes that Woodley is getting ideas above his station.
“I think [Woodley] is just coming up with excuses why not to face me,” Thompson told MMAjunkie. “I know he wants that money fight, but what champion who really has had the belt around their waist for 30 seconds says, ‘Hey, give me a money fight’? I was kind of laughing in my head. I was all smiles but in my head. I was like, ‘Really?’
“If he’s refusing somebody – a champion refusing to fight somebody? Then yeah [he should be stripped].”
“[GSP] is one of the greats, but he hasn’t fought in three years. Plus to give that fight to Tyron? Maybe (do GSP vs.) Anderson Silva or Conor McGregor or someone like that – a bigger name. I feel Tyron, his name obviously isn’t as big as some of those guys, so why would they give it to him?”
Thompson doesn’t appear to be overly concerned though, since all indications are that the UFC will go ahead and book him against Woodley, regardless of what the new champion thinks about it.
“I have heard that it is going to happen; I’ve heard some weeks here and there that it could be a possibility,” Thompson said. “Just don’t know when. I’m training right now as if I’m facing Tyron Woodley in November on the Madison Square Garden card. So I’m preparing as if I’m gong to fight then.”
If and when the match-up does come along, ‘Wonderboy’ thinks that his style matches up well with ‘T-Wood’s’.
“I think it’s a great matchup for me. He keeps his left side forward, likes to throw the big right hand. He’s a very explosive fighter, doesn’t fight very well backing up, and tends to slow down after the first round because he’s a very explosive guy. He’s not afraid to stand there and bang it out, which is a plus for me, as well.”
