Woodley calls out Nick Diaz for a scrap at UFC 209 in March.
When Tyron Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 to become the new welterweight champion, ‘T-Wood’ wasted no time in calling out his ideal opponents.
Woodley, 34, said he wanted a big-money fight against either Nick Diaz or Georges St-Pierre in his first title defense, but the newly-crowned champion was slated to face top contender Stephen Thompson at UFC 205.
That bout was controversially deemed a draw, and many expect the two welterweights to duke it out again next year.
Woodley, though, is back to calling out Nick Diaz following the news of his settlement with the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) on Wednesday and wants to fight the former Strikeforce welterweight champ at UFC 209.
209 is the area code for Stockton, California - the city Diaz has lived in and represented since he was a child. UFC 209 is scheduled to take place on March 4th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Diaz, 33, was suspended for 18 months and fined $100,000 after one of his three drug tests from UFC 183 came back positive for marijuana metabolites. The Stockton local hasn’t fought in almost two years and hasn’t won a fight since 2011, when he battered B.J. Penn at UFC 137.
Despite this, Diaz has remained a key star in the MMA world and has kept himself relevant by forming a rivalry with the current champion.
Although both men are willing to fight, it’s likely the UFC will book Woodley against Thompson for another championship epic in the new year.