Roddy: Woodley or Diaz ideal for next McGregor fight
McGregor’s striking coach says he would like to see him fight for a third belt, preferring Woodley or Diaz over Nurmagomedov. Roddy:
Maybe [Tyron] Woodley,. For me, for him to go up and compete for a third belt [welterweight], maybe Woodley. [Nate] Diaz again is another great one. I think it’s what fans would want to see. They want to see something special again, the Diaz fight again is special. The Woodley fight is special…You can’t really doubt Khabib at this stage. He’s a phenomenal grappler and a phenomenal wrestler. But I don’t know whether the excitement is there, you know? Obviously for Conor it’s about the pay-per-views. It’s about the money. Whether Khabib will hit the pay-per-views for him I just don’t know…He poses a different threat so it would be good to sort of work out what strikes are going to land on him. He can be hit as well, I will say that. He got hit a bit in his last fight.
Thompson: McGregor’s ‘too small for the 170 division’
Thompson says he is not worried about a rematch with Woodley, and that McGregor is too small to fight at 170 pounds.
Not at all (worried), man. To be honest with you, I think the UFC knows that I deserve that title shot, that I deserve that rematch. And you know what, I think that Conor McGregor’s gotta defend the 145 and the 155 title and I just think he’s too small for the 170 division. I mean, he’s walking around right at 170, maybe a little bit less. I don’t think it would be a good division for him to step up to…I think it would be a good fight no matter what. I mean, he is one of the best fighters out there and that’s what we’re out to do. We’re out to fight the best fighters in whatever division, whoever steps up…He’s already out there talking trash to Tyron and doing his thing, doing what Conor McGregor does…People show up just to see him just act nuts. Hats off to that guy, he’s a very intelligent, very smart guy.
‘McGregor just dances around the subject of fighting me’
Woodley talks about the pair of incidents he had with McGregor at UFC 205.
I think he was trying to bait me. But the hook was taken and he didn’t do nothing with it…Before the video came out. The one he was upset about. Even though he did the shit. Don’t do it and then be mad that somebody video taped it. Anyway, even before my video came out that showed where he faked tossing the chair. Before that video came out, at the press conference he said ‘I’ll take all of those belts over there!’. So I said ‘What belts?’. And then he was quiet and didn’t say much. Never once would he mention my belt. He never would mention fighting for the welterweight title. He just danced around the subject. He never once would say ‘I will fight Tyron Woodley’. Or ‘I will take his belt’. He started planting those seeds later. I saw him doing it and was like ‘Hell yeah! I’ll plant those seeds with you.
Believes McGregor can beat Woodley
When asked by a fan on Twitter, Jones says McGregor can beat Woodley.
I'm not saying Connor would win, I'm saying he could win if wood doesn't use all the tools he's capable of https://t.co/qFe8sVrKR7
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 15, 2016
‘If McGregor wants to fight we can sign it right now’
At the post UFC 205 press conference Woodley talks about fighting McGregor.
I’m mean to be straight honest. Conor McGregor is a guy that fought at 145, ever in his life. I haven’t weighed 145 since my sophomore year in high school. He’s tall, got long arms, got good timing, and can place good punches. I’m 100% positive he’s not been hit with the shots I’ll hit him with. I just don’t think Conor understands the pressure I can put on him, the power I can put on him, and all the different attacks. I think it’s good for media. If he wants to fight, we can sign it right now. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for him to fight me.
Woodley, McGregor twitter spat
McGregor and Woodley get into a Twitter spat where McGregor calls Woodley a bitch multiple times.
Dude Im not them guys u deal w Homie! I'll forget the fight 💩 & go Ferguson! Focus on Eddie & never call me a Bitch again.
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) November 11, 2016
bitch
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 11, 2016
McGregor confronts Woodley backstage
McGregor confronts Woodley backstage after the
You’re like a woman with that phone. F-ckin’ bitch.
Conor McGregor Confronts Tyron Woodley Backstage pic.twitter.com/78PY9lk9sl
— Conor McGregor News (@ConormcGregor5) November 12, 2016
McGregor stares down Woodley
When Woodley enters the official weigh in room, he says something to McGregor, causing the Irishman to stare him down for several seconds.
Tyron Woodley and Conor McGregor share a moment at #ufc205 official weigh-ins pic.twitter.com/unizJAwzKd
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) November 11, 2016
UFC Embedded – Episode 5
UFC releases Episode 5 of UFC 205 Embedded. Woodley visits the New York Giants at work, meeting Eli Manning and Odell Beckham, Jr. among others. Alvarez suits up for the UFC 205 press conference at Madison Square Garden, where McGregor arrives late. The video shows more detail of the ‘chair incident’. The action moves to backstage where Jedrzejczyk lambasts opponent Karolina Kowalkiewicz, who responds with a finger. Alvarez:
Take that stupid ass coat off.
UFC 205 Embedded: Vlog Series – Episode 3
In the latest episode of UFC Embedded, McGregor talks to fans, including a policewoman, checks out his luxury ride and takes it on a high-end shopping trip Thompson packs for his trip as opponent Woodley gets out the vote, and Alvarez heads to Connecticut for a day of media at ESPN.
Woodley: McGregor shouldn’t try for welterweight
Woodley says McGregor is too smart to take a fight with him at Welterweight, assuming they are both victorious at UFC 205.
Well first off I think Conor is a smart individual and he knows that fighting me is not going to be good for his health. I just do not really see him wanting that fight…Even if he loses to Eddie it is not all bad. With his two bouts with Diaz, he will have now fought three times in a row outside the division and he still holds the belt. So he is a smart business guy and so I do not think he is going to want to come up and fight a guy who is going to outsize him. Being 170 and fighting 170 is two different things. I walk around at 200. Giving up that 30-pounds…Plus he is not going to have a boxing advantage. He is definitely not going to have a wrestling advantage. He is definitely not going to have a strength advantage. And it would be a lopsided display of power. I just really do not think there is any advantage to him having that fight with me. I will not be discouraged by his antics or him talking crap..But if we both get through our fights with victories and he wants to fight me then by all means. Sign me up now. I would actually feel bad about beating Conor McGregor. Like man, I just beat a guy who is 145. Granted, I would make a truck load of money. But it is not a situation that I would walk around with my chest pumped out afterward.