UFC welterweight number one contender Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson says current champion Tyron Woodley is afraid to face him, as he loses his grip on a title shot.
Woodley dethroned Robbie Lawler last month and has been quick to seek a big money fight against Georges St-Pettis and Nick Diaz upon his return to the Octagon. The 34-year-old also insists that Thompson must fight Lawler before he is to earn a title shot.
Asked whether or not Woodley really wanted to fight him, Thompson responded: "Well as hard as he's fighting it, it does seem that way. If it was just the money - and it doesn't seem like the UFC's going to give it to him - okay, I'll fight the number one contender.
"But now it's going crazy. Now he's throwing racism out there and now he's just kind of going over and beyond of the whole situation, to be honest with you. And yeah man, it's starting to seem that way. I mean, you're the champion, you should be taking all newcomers - especially when you just get that belt. You have the belt for thirty seconds and you're already shutting me down, asking for a money fight? It doesn't work that way pal."
Thompson also accused Woodley of being a hypocrite for trying to deny him a title shot which he feels he deserves.
"When you were a few months ago preaching how you deserve that fight, you deserve the fight, give it to you when you were ranked number four and they still gave it to you. And now you're doing this to me? It sounds like you're a hypocrite, man. That's just crazy talk. It sounds like to me you're scared. You're scared to fight me. Let's do this, let's go. I don't know what else to say without throwing in a few cuss words."
Demian Maia has also staked a claim to a title shot after dominating former interim champion Carlos Condit in Vancouver. Donald Cerrone is another rising through the welterweight ranks after beating Rick Story with a wonderful TKO at UFC 202, racking up his third consecutive victory at 170lbs.
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