Underdog Role Fits UFC Champion Tyron Woodley Just Fine

From a betting perspective, Tyron Woodley enters his first title defense as an underdog.

And the reigning UFC welterweight champion is fine with that.

Woodley is expected to face Stephen Thompson in November at UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden. He won the belt with a first round knockout over Robbie Lawler earlier this year.

“It came from knowing you’ve done everything to prepare and left no stone unturned, understanding your opponent and yourself,” he said, during an appearance on UFC Tonight. “I felt like it was my time. Robbie was fighter of the year for a reason. He’s a friend of mine, a guy I respect. But I felt there was no way I was going to walk out without it.”

Woodley told Thompson after the win over Lawler that he wanted to face either Nick Diaz or Georges St-Pierre first. That, though, was not the champion turning Thompson down at all.

“We’re fighting at Madison Square Garden, I promise that,” he said. “I never said I wasn’t fighting him and I never turned it down. The first time I was offered that fight, I accepted it.”