Tyron Woodley unfazed by Demian Maia being a specialist

On Saturday, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will step into the Octagon in hopes of making yet another successful title defense in the co-main event of UFC 214. The fight will see ‘The Chosen One’ step into the Octagon with arguably the greatest JiuJitsu specialist in the UFC, Demian Maia.

Ahead of the fight, Woodley spoke to those in attendance at the UFC 214 open workouts, saying:

“I’m the specialist – I’m the best (expletive) fighter in the welterweight division. I’m the best wrestler. I’m the best boxer. I have the best conditioning. I’m the most explosive. They’re fighting a specialist. I just so happen to specialize in MMA.

“With that said, fighting Demian Maia, fighting Stephen Thompson, I basically just absorb their powers. Things I would have never done in my game, now I’ll do those things against other opponents.”

In addition, Tyron Woodley feels as though Maia is already looking at the fight as his swan song, something that hasn’t sat right with the champ:

“This is his shot. He said that thing on Embedded that really struck a nerve for me. He said, “What better way to go out.’ When you start talking about going out, and you’re fighting me, I’m the type of fighter that’s retired a lot of fighters. Look at Jay Heiron. Look at Andre Galvao. Those are guys that didn’t fight again after they fought me. When you go into this fight thinking this is going to be the crown on top of your career, I’m the wrong guy. I’m not going to let you have access to that. I’m not going to let you get 20 (UFC) wins against me.”

The champ of course is referencing Maia potentially setting the record for most UFC wins.

Tune in on Saturday to see if Maia is able to make it happen.

on 7/28/2017.