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Dana White: Stephen Thompson is next to face Tyron Woodley for UFC title
- Updated: August 12, 2016
In all the public jostling going on at the top of the welterweight division — both from the champion, and the contenders — it looks like Stephen Thompson has emerged as the top candidate to face Tyron Woodley in his first title defense.
Though nothing is official, according to UFC president Dana White, “Wonderboy” Thompson will get the first crack at Woodley’s belt. If the fight happens, it would go against Woodley’s own requests for a fight against either Georges St-Pierre or Nick Diaz, the latter who is coming off of an 18-month suspension as of Aug. 1.
White told UFC.com that after UFC 202, when Nate Diaz fights Conor McGregor at 170 pounds, McGregor will go back to featherweight to defend his title there, and Nick Diaz won’t be thrust to the front of the line.
“I fully expect Conor to come back and defend his 145-pound title,” White said. “I think that Nate [Diaz] feels his brother should have the fight at 170, but Nick is not going to come back and fight for the title right away.
“There are other guys deserving of a title shot. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson is going to fight for the 170-pound title and then we’ll see what happens with Nick and Nate.”
After knocking out Robbie Lawler to win the 170-pound title at UFC 201 on July 30, Woodley called out St-Pierre, who is in contract talks to come out of retirement with the UFC, and Diaz, who hasn’t fought since a UFC 183 loss against Anderson Silva (later rendered a “no contest” by the Nevada Athletic Commission when it was learned that Silva popped for …
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