Tyron Woodley: I Just Don’t Think Conor McGregor Understands

As much of a spectacle it was for MMA to see Conor McGregor become the first concurrent two-weight class champion when he beat Eddie Alvarez at last weekend’s groundbreaking UFC 205 event from Madison Square Garden, McGregor could amazingly compete for a third UFC title in the not-so-distant future.

“”The Notorious” has been rumored to possibly be headed for a welterweight championship fight with Tyron Woodley, who fought Stephen Thompson to a close majority draw in the UFC co-main event – and even loaned McGregor his belt when the Irish star called out for a second strap following his second round finish of Alvarez.

The fact that happened was surprising considering McGregor laid the groundwork for a fight with Woodley by calling him a “b****’ before the two got into a heated Twitter war of words. But at the post-fight press conference (via MMA Junkie) after his close bout with “Wonderboy,” Woodley addressed the looming issue of facing a longtime featherweight:

“To be just straight up honest, Conor McGregor is a guy that fought at 145 – ever in his life. I haven’t weighed 145 since my sophomore year of high school.”

While it may sound like Woodley believes it would be a mismatch even after McGregor beat Nate Diaz at welterweight at UFC 202, “The Chosen One” insisted that wasn’t the case:

“I’m not going to say that. Because he’s tall, he has long arms, he has good timing, and when you’ve got good timing like that, you can place place good punches. But I’m 100 percent positive he’s never been hit with the shots I’d hit him with.”

Woodley continued on to clear up how he feels he would dominate McGregor, and while knows it would be a massive fight were McGregor to fight for a third belt, he doesn’t think it’s a very beneficial match-up for him. Still, he wouldn’t let that stop it from happening if it came down to it:

“I just don’t think Conor understands the pressure I can put on him and the power I can put on him and all the different attacks. I think it’s good for media, but in general, man, I don’t know how I can win. If I beat him, everyone’s going to say I’m supposed to beat him and that he’s a former featherweight. And if I lose to him, we know what’s going to happen there. If he wants to fight, we can sign it right now. I’m good on the fight. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for him to fight me.”

Woodley makes some good points as usual; but it’s extremely tough to understand why a champion who just months ago was calling for a “money fight” with either Georges St-Pierre or Nick Diaz moments after he beat Robbie Lawler to win the title.

There’s no bigger money fight than McGregor – now or ever in the history of the UFC – so if Woodley believes he holds such significant advantages over the Irish “Double champ,” he’d be well-served to continue his Twitter beef and anything else with MMA’s most well-known competitor.

He may feel like he’s got nothing to win, but in truth, it’s simply a once-in-a-lifetime payday.