Woodley has no excuses for the loss, but would like to get a rematch with Usman to reclaim the title.
“We know what I’m capable of,” Woodley said at the UFC 235 post-fight press conference (via Dave Doyle of MMA Fighting). ”I’m just looking to rematch and run it back, man. It was my fifth title defense, and I feel like, I’m the champion and what I’ve done for this organization, man, the performance may not have voiced for a rematch but I think my resume does.”
The loss at UFC 235 was the first defeat Woodley has suffered in over four years and that came against Rory MacDonald at UFC 174.
If there was one thing that Woodley walked away from the fight knowing, it was that he fought in an uncharacteristic way.
“It was an uncharacteristic fight of me,” Woodley said. “I kind of knew early on. Sometimes when I start a fight, I come out blazing, I come out with combinations, I kind of get in that rhythm and I stay in that rhythm. This time it was just something real weird. He was dropping down and squatting all low and it was almost like i was hypnotized like I know you’re about to shoot, I’m trying to time what you do so I can hit you with those uppercuts, and I then I think I got to the point I was just waiting on him to shoot.”
Former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington is expected to get the next shot at Usman, meaning that it could be awhile before Woodley gets that coveted rematch.
