UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley has been on the sidelines in the last few months after getting shoulder surgery.
Although his official return has yet to be announced, a recovering Woodley would like to be on the UFC 226 card.
“At that point, it will be perfect time (UFC 226), and the proper opponent will emerge,” said Woodley to MMA Junkie.
Woodley was last seen in action at UFC 214, where he successfully defended the welterweight title with a decision win over Damien Maia.
As far as an opponent goes for the big event, a front runner in the champion’s eyes is former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos.
“(Former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos) is probably the closest,” he said. “Of anybody in that pool, it would probably be him. The other guys that are talking and chirping, they know they’re not in position to fight me. But they figure, hey, nobody else is going to fight him, why not try to put myself in position. But none of these guys really want to see me. They all talk about wanting to fight – my toughest matchups are behind me.”
UFC 226 takes place on Saturday, July 7 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
