Tyron Woodley on Conor McGregor: If He Wants the Fight, We Can Sign It Right Now

On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC 205, UFC featherweight champ Conor McGregor knocked out lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously. Earlier that same night, UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley defended his title with a tooth-and-nail majority draw opposite Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

In the buildup to these two memorable fights, McGregor and Woodley had a number of tense encounters. They also had a pretty heated exchange on Twitter. Given that McGregor spent much of 2016 in Woodley’s welterweight division, where he went 1-1 across to bouts with Nate Diaz, his run-ins with Woodley immediately generated buzz about a potential fight between them.

Woodley addressed this possibility during a post-fight media scrum.

“To be straight up honest, Conor McGregor is a guy that’s fought at 145,” Woodley told the media of this much smaller potential opponent.” I haven’t weighed 145 since  my sophomore year in high school. I’m 100% positive he’s never been hit wit the shots I’ll hit him with. I just don’t think Conor understands the pressure I can put on him, the power I can put on him, and all the different attacks. So i think it’s good for media but in general I don’t know how I can win. If I beat him, everyone will say I was supposed to beat him – he’s a former featherweight. If I lose to him, obviously we know what’s going to happen there.”

Despite the fact that Woodley has a hard time seeing the positives in a potential bout with McGregor, he also explained that he’d take the fight in a heart beat.

“If he wants the fight, we can sign it right now,” the welterweight champ said. “I’m good on the fight. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for him to fight me.”

As exciting as the prospect of a Woodley vs. McGregor bout is, it seems fairly unlikely. UFC President Dana White recently suggested that Woodley’s next challenge would be a rematch with Thompson. McGregor meanwhile, plans to take some time off to father his first child. When the Irishman does return to action, he’ll face plenty of pressure to take on a top lightweight contender like Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson, or interim featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

How do you think a Woodley vs. McGregor bout would go? Sound off, PENN Nation!