Following his flawless victory over Robbie Lawler this past weekend at UFC 201, to be crowned the new UFC welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley wasted little time it trying to set up a big money fight. In his post fight press conference ‘The Chosen One’ set his sights on Stockton’s own Nick Diaz who, after completing an 18-month suspension, is once again free to resume his fighting career.
“Nick Diaz is a top-five welterweight of all time in my eyes,” said Woodley on Sunday morning. “I think Nick Diaz comes off suspension in two days. I would love to fight him on 202. I know his brother is fighting. I think he deserves it. He’s a guy that’s been around the sport. He’s put a lot of butts in the seats, sold a lot of pay-per-views. So why not put him on a big card with Conor and his brother? I know he’s training already.”
Ask and you shall receive? Following Woodley’s call out of the former Strikeforce welterweight champion, Diaz then spoke exclusively to TMZ yesterday agreeing to take the fight on short notice if the UFC can pony up the right amount of money.
“If they make me an offer I can’t refuse,” Diaz said. “But I doubt that’s going to happen. I’m over here, look at me right now, I don’t need nothing. I don’t owe nobody nothing. I don’t owe anybody s**t.
It’s not about belts or championships for Diaz. He wants to fight the best in the world in his weight class, the moneyweight division.
“You know what, I always want to fight the best guy, but the thing is I’m on top,” said Diaz. I’m the one on top. They’re dropping my name. I don’t need no fake-ass piece of plastic. F**k that. I could fight and we could do a catchweight too.
“Everybody wants to do a fight with me, champions at 170, champions at 185. I said we can meet halfway. I don’t owe nobody nothing. I’m a pay-per-view without a title. I don’t need that fake-ass plastic to beat somebody.”
Nick Diaz is back ladies and gentlemen. It appears it’s only a matter of time before we see him inside in the Octagon again.
