Tyron Woodley Says He Would Fight Demian Maia at UFC 207 this December

One of the highlights of UFC 205 was welterweight champion Tyron Woodley’s incredible, five-round war with challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The pair’s tooth-and-nail battle was so competitive that it culminated in a rare, majority draw.

With this uncommon result, Woodley retains his title – though surely not in the fashion he intended. With the belt still wrapped around his waist, the champ now shifts his focus to his next challenge. And though UFC President Dana White suggested that challenge would be an immediate rematch with Thompson, Woodley recently explained that he wouldn’t mind taking on streaking contender Demian Maia at UFC 207 this December 30. The champ voiced this desire on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour.

“2017 is going to be a big year for me, but who knows, I’m going back to the gym right now to train and move around,” Woodley told host Ariel Helwani. “Maybe December 30 they want me to go in there again and get it on again – I’d be ready.”

“I’m always anticipating the ‘hey man can you jump in on this short notice call, so I never want to be taken off guard.”

“Let’s see what the UFC decides,” Woodley said. “Stephen is busted up – his nose, his face, his eyes are shut. We don’t know what [the UFC] wants to do. Maybe it’s time for me to get a fight in with Maia in December and if Wonderboy wants to get into after that maybe we get it on then. Who knows. All I’m saying is I’m not against anything.”

Maia is currently riding high on a six-fight streak, including dominant victories over Neil Magny, Gunnar Nelson, Matt Brown and Carlos Condit. If it weren’t for the slightly more impressive seven-fight streak of Thompson, the Brazilian grappling specialist almost certainly would have gotten the first crack at Woodley’s throne. Luckily for him, it sounds as though he could get his long-awaited welterweight title shot this December. Time will tell if this possibility actually interests the UFC’s decision makers.

Would you be interested in seeing Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia go at on December 30? If they did, who do you think would come out on top? Sound off, PENN Nation!