Tyron Woodley Looking To Cut In Line For Title Shot At UFC 174

UFC welterweight contender Tyron Woodley will square off with Rory MacDonald in the co-main event of this Saturday’s UFC 174 in Vancouver, Canada, in what could prove to be a very influential bout in the divisional title picture. Currently riding a two-fight win streak for the promotion, #3 T-Wood’ is hoping to secure a title shot against the #2 ranked ‘Ares’.

Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown are scheduled to do battle at UFC on Fox 12, with the title shot against Johny Hendricks on the line. Speaking to MMAJunkie.com, ‘The Chosen One’ still thinks he can cut in line at UFC 174:

“This is the UFC. You don’t think they can switch that and change the promos on the spot? I think it’s performance-based. I think they’re trying to put a fire underneath me, underneath Rory, underneath Robbie and Matt,” Woodley said. “They told me I could get a title shot. I guess they told Robbie and (Jake) Ellenberger (prior to their UFC 173 bout), and now Robbie’s fighting Matt Brown.”

Woodley is certainly correct in his description of the methodology of handing out title shots in the UFC, and who is to say he won’t be awarded a go at ‘Bigg Rigg’ if he finishes MacD in swift order? Stranger things certainly have happened.

“I think the best performance is going to get a title shot,” Woodley said. “My goal is really to focus on beating Rory MacDonald in a dominant fashion – to go up to Vancouver and do my thing. Everything else, whether they give me a shot or not, I’m eventually going to win the world title. I’m going to be in the title picture. But I just need to focus on this kid because if I go out there and I don’t win, then I’m not getting a world title anyway.”

MacDonald presents an extremely technical and well-rounded challenge for the heavy-handed Strikeforce veteran, who will hope to emulate the performance of the only man to beat ‘Ares’ since Carlos Condit; Robbie Lawler. ‘Ruthless’ put a pretty solid showing in against MacD at UFC 167, scoring a big knockdown en-route to a decision win, a win that earned Lawler his UFC 171 title shot.

The fight against MacDonald this Saturday is without doubt his biggest yet, and it seems as though T-Wood is focused on earning a huge win. Do you think the power puncher will prevail, or is Woodley destined for a long night of eating accurate jabs?

Tune in tomorrow for the LowKick live chat forum for UFC 174!