It didn’t take the MMA world long to get comfortable with Robbie Lawler as UFC welterweight champion.
Any initial doubts about the future of the 170-pound division without Georges St-Pierre quickly subsided in 2014 after Lawler and Johny Hendricks authored an epic title struggle spread across two fights and 10 rounds at UFCs 171 and 181.
When Lawler emerged with the belt, it felt like more than just a changing of the guard. After seven years of more or less uninterrupted dominance by St-Pierre, fans were ready for something new. Lawler’s ferocious stand-up-oriented style and general preference for wild brawls made the battle-tested veteran an instant fan favorite.
In the wake of Lawler's championship loss to Tyron Woodley by surprising but emphatic first-round KO at Saturday’s UFC 201, will spectators now extend the same level of admiration to Woodley?
At first glance, it was tempting to be disappointed by Lawler’s defeat. In a world that is becoming increasingly chaotic for UFC champions, this latest upset could be seen as just another step toward anarchy.
It at least temporarily scratched plans for a hotly anticipated fight between Lawler and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, and at this juncture, we don’t yet know what kind of champion Woodley will be or who he will fight next.
Perhaps contrary to popular belief, however, there is still plenty of room for optimism. Company-wide, the UFC title scene may be devolving into a hot mess, but welterweight figures to remain hotter than ever.
As it so often does, a change at the top has given new life to nearly the entire 170-pound division. With Woodley’s unexpected reign just getting underway, it frankly seems like anything is possible.
Credit the new champion for trying to get out in front of the news cycle with a few ideas of his own.
Woodley caught some flak when—instead of Thompson—he immediately tabbed St-Pierre or the recently reinstated Nick Diaz as his preferred opponents for a first title defense.
Obviously, this is pretty much the same tactic Diaz himself has used throughout his own career when attempting to drum up the biggest paydays. Somehow, though, when Woodley did it, fans accused him of ducking Thompson:
The truth of the matter, though, is that this was actually a pretty shrewd move. After spending the first seven years of his professional career toiling in relatively anonymity, it’s no wonder Woodley is suddenly interested in seizing his chance to earn a few big paydays.
And after UFC President Dana White inexplicably labeled him a guy who “chokes in big fights” back in 2014, per MMA Fighting.com’s Dave Doyle, you can understand how Woodley might want to take this opportunity to flex his newly won political muscle.
Perhaps he also inherently understands that as the lowest-profile welterweight champion in recent memory, the UFC will want to book him against a bankable first opponent.
While the top-ranked Thompson has the best resume, he's arguably the least well-known of anyone in the 170-pound top five. If we're making matchmaking decisions these days based entirely on which choices are the most economically viable, Wonderboy is likely going to end up taking a back seat for the time being.
Here's Woodley breaking the news to Thompson himself as part of Fox Sports 1’s UFC 201 postfight show:
"Stephen Thompson said he wanted to fight Robbie Lawler...,” Woodley quipped at the postfight press conference. “He'll get the opportunity to have that fight [now]. I feel no obligation to go by the rankings. We all know how those rankings are produced anyway. I want to fight the money fights."
But if Thompson won't be his huckleberry, then who is most likely to actually land a date with The Chosen One?
For starters, there is the issue of a potential rematch for Lawler to figure out.
After running off five straight wins and becoming one of the UFC’s most beloved recent champions, the fight company could probably book Ruthless Robbie an immediate return bout against Woodley and get away with it.
That would work. Nobody would complain about that. After what we saw last weekend, the idea of a Lawler-Woodley rematch even sounds more exciting and interesting than their first meeting did. At least now we know the outcome isn't a foregone conclusion.
But if rankings are no object and Woodley is only interested in maximizing his earning potential—and assuming GSP doesn't suddenly end his quasi-retirement—then Diaz stands as the most intriguing pick.
The trouble might be convincing the Stockton bad boy that the fight is worth his time.
Diaz's suspension in Nevada over a dubious marijuana test lapsed this week, and his return thickens the plot considerably. But his last fight at welterweight was a loss to top star St-Pierre in a 2013 championship fight.
Diaz lamented this week there were “no superstars” left for him to fight, per MMA Fighting.com’s Jed Meshew. If that’s how he feels, would a shiny gold belt and a bout with a dangerous guy like Woodley be enough to entice him to return to the cage?
Maybe not.
Even if the shoot-the-moon options all fall through for Woodley, however, there is still a robust crop of 170-pound contenders lining up behind him. A few of the options aren't too shabby as a worst-case scenarios, either.
Demian Maia and Carlos Condit are scheduled to scrap in late August. The winner of that bout would clearly shape up as an able opponent. Condit’s aggressive stand-up skills and Maia’s very traditional grappling style would make compelling matchups for the new champ.
While it’s probably far-fetched to think that a matter as simple as the title changing hands might affect the free agency of Rory MacDonald, it’s tough not to notice that MacDonald’s prospects may have also improved.
He appeared locked out of the title picture after a recent loss to Lawler. With Woodley on top, the Canadian phenom would suddenly make a fresh challenge, if he decides to eschew other offers and return to the UFC.
Oh, and you want a wild-card option?
What about Conor McGregor?
Prior to McGregor’s welterweight loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196, there were whispers he might land a shot at Lawler’s title. With the Irishman set to rematch Diaz at UFC 202 on August 20, it’s unclear where a win would leave him.
McGregor has been adamant that he will return to featherweight to defend his 145-pound title, likely against new interim champion Jose Aldo. But what if a chance to win Woodley’s belt were dangled in front of his nose?
Would McGregor jump on it, the same way he seemed eager to test his skills against Lawler?
Unknown.
The only thing we do know for sure is that Woodley currently enjoys a wealth of options for his first fight as champion.
Everywhere you look, the welterweight division brims with intriguing possibilities, with or without Lawler.
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