Masvidal Ready For ‘Rocky,’ Wants No Part Of Woodley

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Jorge Masvidal is ready to throw down with growing rival Leon Edwards later this year, but “Gamebred” isn’t too crazy about the idea of fighting former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.

Masvidal, 35, has become one of the most talked about fighters in combat sports over the past year and seems to enjoy every moment of his new found notoriety. The veteran’s rise in stardom is a direct result of his three-straight knockout wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren, and Nate Diaz, and now has Masvidal targeted for a title fight this July against current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Despite Masvidal already being in position to claim UFC gold later this year the outspoken superstar still has his sights set on additional foe. That includes the likes of Conor McGregor, Colby Covington, and the aforementioned Leon Edwards.

Edwards, who is scheduled to fight Woodley at UFC Fight Night 171 this March in London, England, has become one of Masvidal’s greatest enemies after the two exchanged punches backstage at UFC London last year (see it HERE). While Masvidal got the best of Edwards and ultimately delivered his infamous “three piece and soda,” the streaking welterweight contender still wants to get his hands on “Rocky” inside of the cage if he’s able to take out Woodley next month.

“If Leon wins the fight, it’s going to happen,” Masvidal told Submission Radio (shown above). “Me and him are going to definitely fight, because now he’s a very strong candidate for the fight.”

This shouldn’t shock many as Masvidal and Edwards have been on a collision course since their backstage altercation just 10 months ago, but it should surprise some to know that “Gamebred” is unwilling to fight Woodley if he ends of beating Edwards at UFC London. That’s not to say Masvidal is scared to compete against the former UFC welterweight king, he just doesn’t want to fight somebody he respects so much.

“In the case of Woodley, if I had to pick a guy I wouldn’t fight, it would be him,” Masvidal said. “That’s not a guy that I want to fight. But if we’re going fight, if we’re both in position for the belt, yeah, we’ll do it, and there’d be no heat about it. Afterwards, we’d go hang out, eat food, talk (expletive). Me and Woodley have a really good relationship and we see things really similar. It’s just business. It’s nothing personal.”

Masvidal doesn’t say no to many fights in the 170-pound division, but it sounds like Woodley is the last guy on his list. “Gamebred” may not want to see Woodley inside of the Octagon due to their relationship outside of it, but the matchup would also be a stylistic struggle for Masvidal. Woodley is one of the very best wrestlers in the division today and that seems to be the most logical tool needed to take Masvidal out of his game and off his feet. That’s why Masvidal’s potential clash with Usman this July is so darn interesting.

That said, Masvidal and Woodley may still end up competing alongside one another at some point this year. If Woodley is able to end Edwards’ eight-fight win streak at UFC London and rebound from his recent title loss to Usman he’ll be right back in position to fight for his belt. And if Masvidal can keep things rolling this summer and steal the 170-pound crown from Usman then “Gamebred” may be forced to defend his title against “Chosen One.”

What say you, Maniacs? How would a Masvidal vs. Woodley fight play out?

Let’s hear it!