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Tyrone Woodley Says Carlos Condit's Injury Shouldn't Detract from Him Earning a Title Shot

Robbie Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley Headline UFC 201 on July 30

UFC president Dana White had no news to announce about who is first up for new welterweight champion Johny Hendricks at the UFC 171 post-fight press conference following Saturday night’s fights in Dallas.

There were two candidates on the card whose names are in the mix – Tyron Woodley and Hector Lombard – as well as Rory MacDonald, who hasn’t been shy about proclaiming his qualifications for a shot.

Woodley and Carlos Condit fought in the UFC 171 co-main event, leading most people to believe it would be a number one contender’s bout, but White wouldn’t declare it so. Woodley’s victory over Condit wasn’t without criticism either.

By all accounts, Woodley put on a strong performance, but the lion’s share of criticism has come from those that believe it didn’t qualify as a quality win because Condit suffered an injury during the fight. (Watch the Condit vs. Woodley highlight video here.)

The injury occurred when Woodley shot on Condit and planted him on his back. At some point during the takedown, Condit’s right knee was injured. In a follow-up exchange, Woodley landed a hard kick to Condit’s left leg that spun him around and sent him crumbling to the mat, clutching his right knee, causing the referee to stop the fight.

Woodley, however, fails to see how the injury detracts from his performance.

“I think it takes nothing away. I think if you break somebody’s arm in an armbar, if you choke ’em out and they don’t tap… it wasn’t like he came in with a pre-existing injury. It came from a double-leg takedown. I saw that he was hurt and I went for the finish,” he said at the post-fight press conference.

“I think I was dominating the fight and that’s a tough guy to dominate in general.”

Whether or not it was a strong enough performance to earn a spot opposite Hendricks the next time he sets foot in the Octagon has yet to be determined.

Again, Woodley believes it should, but of course he could be a little biased since his passion is to capture the gold that is now in Hendricks’ possession.

“I asked for [the Condit] fight because I didn’t think I was gonna lose it,” said Woodley. “You guys fail to realize that I’m in this to be a world champion. I went after the top guy when everybody was so quiet, and I blew (Dana White’s) phone up until he probably couldn’t take it anymore because I want to be the world champion.

“I think that alone, that persistence, warrants me a world title shot.”

Not only does he feel he earned a title shot, Woodley added that there is a little spice to be added to the mix if you take a peek back in time.

“Me and Johny Hendricks got some old unfinished business from the Big 12 days of wrestling. I would love to get my hands on him. It’s a crazy fight.”

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