Tyron Woodley is on the shelf with a shoulder injury after his third successful title defense over four months ago, but that didn't keep him from talking to Fightful at UFC 218.
Despite competing his entire career at 170 pounds, Woodley told reporters at UFC 218 that he's considering a move to 185 pounds to try to secure a fight with Georges St-Pierre.
"That's the fight I always wanted since I got in the sport, he's been the king. He's the greatest welterweight of all time, and I have the belt. Does Georges need to fight me? No. He's done what he's needed to do. He's coming back in the sport because he built the blueprint of PPV and now it's catching fire. He wants to come back and participate in some of those points. I'm not the guy he wants to fight right now. I feel like people have a short term memory and forget I have 11 finishes, 9 in the first round," said Woodley.
St-Pierre issued a statement today saying that he is battling colitis.
"I now understand the health issues that I had during my last training camp ... I hoped my condition would improve after the fight but unfortunately it got worse and I had to go straight to the hospital for a colonoscopy when I came back from vacation last Wednesday," he wrote. "The diagnosis is ulcerative colitis and I am now taking medication that will hopefully appease the symptoms. My health is my #1 priority right now, I'm still a very happy man, thanks for your support!"
Unfortunately for Woodley, an interim champion in Robert Whittaker stands in his way in addition to the colitis issue with GSP.
"What is colitis? I'm not saying he doesn't have the issue he says he has, but was he even scheduled to fight? I think it's a method to buy him some extra time. What does a Robert Whittaker fight do for Georges? A young, spunky fighter that's going to come right after Georges with everything he's got. He's not going to make nearly the pay per view he did with Bisping. I think he's smart, he doesn't have to take that risk, and I don't think he wants to reign over the division with all these guys coming back-to-back-to-back. I came to grips last week that I may never fight Georges St-Pierre," said Woodley.
Woodley also told reporters that he is scheduled for December 19 after a proposed bout with Nate Diaz delayed it.
See our full UFC 218 results and live coverage at this link, and the Fightful.com post-show Podcast at this link.
