Earlier this week it was announced that current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will attempt to defend his title for the first time against number one contender Stephen Thompson at November’s historic UFC 205 fight card in New York.
Woodley earned the UFC welterweight title this past July when he scored a first-round knockout victory over former champ Robbie Lawler in the headlining bout of UFC 201 in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Stephen Thompson has put together an impressive seven fight win streak, most recently scoring a unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Rory MacDonald this past June in Ottawa.
UFC welterweight fighter Alan Jouban, who is currently riding a two-fight win streak and has won four of his past five octagon appearances overall, was a recent guest on BJPENN.com’s Rapid Fire where he gave his analysis and prediction for the Stephen Thompson vs. Tyron Woodley title fight at UFC 205.
Check it out:
“I’m glad that this fight (Thompson vs. Woodley) got put together. “Wonderboy” definitely earned his shot at the title. I can understand why Woodley was attempting to lineup fights with St-Pierre or Diaz because it would have been a big payday for him. Woodley is smart like that. You can tell that he is calculated and thinks about all the potential outcomes before making a decision. He scored a fantastic knockout over Robbie Lawler in his last fight. But I think the UFC is doing the right thing by making him fight the number one contender (Thompson). Woodley has not earned the right to call his fights just yet in my opinion.”
He continued:
“I think it is a great fight. Woodley is obviously very explosive and has a good wrestling base. Thompson on the other hand is an elite striker, probably the best in the division. Wonderboy is very unorthodox and uses his footwork to pick guys apart at distance. He (Thompson) is working with Chris Weidman and those guys on his wrestling so you know he is improving in that area. I would have to guess that Thompson gets the job done at UFC 205. He is taller than Woodley and Tyron will have to leap in with his punches in order to connect. That is going to be tiring. I know Woodley hates when people say this but I think he is most dangerous early in the fight. I think that Thompson will be able to weather the early storm and eventually catch Woodley later in the fight and get the stoppage victory.”
Alan Jouban is hoping to return to the octagon this December, possibly against Patrick Cote (read more here).
How do you see the Thompson vs. Woodley bout playing out at UFC 205 in New York? Sound off PENN Nation!