After being voted the 2010 Rising Star of the Year by STRIKEFORCE fans, Tyron Woodley (8-0) is poised to explode in 2011. A two-time NCAA Division I All-American in wrestling, the undefeated 29 year-old has finished six of his eight opponents, and is being rumored as a potential next challenger for Nick Diaz’s welterweight title.
Woodley attended last Saturday’s STRIKEFORCE: Diaz vs. Daley event. sporting a t-shirt with the statement “I Got Next” printed across the front. The American Top Team product has made it clear that he’s got his sights set on the champ. I spoke with him recently about his goals for 2011.
Johnny Preston: You’re coming off a solid unanimous decision victory over Tarec Saffiedine in January. Any injuries at the moment? Are you in training?
Tyron Woodley: I’m not dealing with any injuries. I’m healthy, and so I’m just getting back into it. I’m anticipating a bout in June or July, so I’m just getting to the point of turning it up a notch in training to get ready for a camp. I don’t have a locked date, so I’m just getting back into shape.
JP: Many are calling the title fight between Nick Diaz and Paul Daley from Saturday an “instant classic.” What did you think of the bout?
TW: I would second that. I think it was an instant classic. They went in there and slugged it out. It was like a water balloon on a table without legs. You think it’s going one way and it’s going to fall off the table and hit the ground, and then its goes the other way. I think it was so back-and-forth for that first frame. The most action you’ve seen in MMA within the first round. I thought it lived up to the hype. It was awesome, an awesome bout.
JP: Let’s cut to the chase: you wore a t-shirt that said “I Got Next” at the event while sitting cageside. That’s a pretty obvious message, but clear it up for the fans: was that shirt directed at Nick Diaz?
TW: Well, if I had that much confidence that Diaz was going to take out Daley, then it would be. My shirt was a representation of the next time the STRIKEFORCE world [welterweight] title’s on the line that I’m the number-one contender, and I should be in there fighting for it. I didn’t really have Diaz favored very much over Daley. [The shirt] was [made] for whoever the victor would be. Actually, it wasn’t really for them, anyway. It was simply to let it be known that I got next, that I should be fighting for the world title next.
JP: With Daley out of the way, do you feel that you are the number one contender for Diaz’s belt?
TW: Oh, definitely. I think I should be able to get another bout in since I fought in January, and its April now, so I should be able to get a fight in. Diaz and Daley have been fighting like madmen. Diaz will probably take some time off, and he might do some boxing, so I’m hoping to meet him for the belt at the end of the year.
JP: When the time does come, how do you see the fight with Diaz going?
TW: I see the fight being an all-out war. For me to go over to his style of fight, that’s suicide. I have to fight this guy the way I need to fight him. I need to put him on his back, avoid submissions, and drop some nice elbows on his head. I need to use my athleticism and my explosiveness…there’s a lot of stuff I have to do. I’m not going to air out every single thing I’m going to do, but I think when the time comes, I’ll be well-prepared, and I’m going to put it all on the line.
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