Tyron Woodley Says Hector Lombard Is ‘Salty And Bitter’
At this rate it’s only a matter of time before we see Tyron Woodley vs Hector Lombard
UFC welterweights Tyron Woodley and Hector Lombard are somewhat in Jones/Evans territory right now. Training together at American Top Team, the two had previously said they wouldn’t fight each other. Now, after back-and-forth chatter over social media and in interviews, it looks like friends have turned in to almost certain future opponents.
The most recent talk from “Showeather” was that Woodley was ducking him, after “The Chosen One” had apparently turned down a bout offer from the UFC. Later, Woodley would replace Lombard at UFC Fight Night 48 to defeat Dong Hyun Kim by knockout. Talking with The MMA Hour today, Woodley fired back at his stable mate:
“The reasons why I didn’t fight, I stayed true to those things. Me and somebody at American Top Team, whether this person is my best friend or whether this person is a complete idiot, I’m not going to fight that person unless it’s for a world title because we can fight somebody else in the division. The division is stacked.”
Woodley did come under a certain amount of fire from the media and fans after he refused to fight “Lightning”, but his logic seems reasonable. Further to this, “T-Wood” makes a case of fights he has taken on short notice, and also against elite competition in the UFC:
“I don’t think that freakin’ Kelvin Gastelum is anything less dangerous than Hector Lombard,” Woodley said. “I don’t think Carlos Condit was anything less dangerous than Hector Lombard, and I don’t think Rory MacDonald is any less skilled than Hector Lombard. So for someone to say that I’m scared, I’m ducking (him): I’ve never ducked a fight.”
Gastelum and Woodley will face off at UFC 183, after “Mini Cain” destroyed Jake Ellenberger at UFC 18o and takes a huge leap in competition. Currently ranked #3 in the promotion’s 170-pound division, “The Chosen One” has been on the fringe of the title picture since joining the UFC. Finally, Woodley opines why his old training partner is talking so much trash:
“He’s probably salty and bitter about that I’m ranked higher than him, that I’m endorsed more handsomely than him, and more people want to work with me because it’s how you treat people. You have to live up to how you treat people. If you treat people a certain way, then people treat you a certain way. If you treat people poorly, then you’re going to be looked as that guy that’s treating people like crap.”
Well there you have it. Lombard will take on Josh Burkman at UFC 182, and there’s no reason now that they shouldn’t eventual;ly square off, especially if both win their upcoming fights. Tyron Woodley vs Hector Lombard, will it happen, and who would win?
