Woodley: ‘Superfight’ vs. Till is biggest bout of my career and sole focus

Normal people try to make money at their jobs. Henry Cejudo was still in the Octagon after winning the flyweight belt when he was calling for a Money Fight with T.J. Dillashaw. Daniel Cormier was still in the Octagon after winning the heavyweight belt when he was getting into it with Brock Lesnar, who hasn’t won a fight since 2010.

When UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley did the same thing, offering to fight GSP or Nick Diaz or then-middleweight champion Michael Bisping, he was faced criticism. However, leading into his fight vs. Darren Till in the main event of UFC 228, Woodley has a singular focus. And given that Till is, actually, a middleweight, Woodley’s first words below are pretty accurate.

I’ve got a superfight coming up Sept. 8, said Woodley on a recent media call, as transcribed by Damon Martin for MMAWeekly. I’m focusing on that and giving your opponent the proper respect is the only way you can open up any other doors. So thinking too far down the road and it will be somebody else wearing your belt.

My focus right now is fighting Darren Till, going out there and putting on a great performance. A fighter that’s worthy of my attention, bringing true skills to the table. I think that should be my focus. We’ll talk about any other type of fights after this fight is over with.

I try not to focus on a title run and how many defenses and breaking records. I just try to focus on each fight. This is my super fight. This is the biggest fight of my career. I’m in great shape. I’ve had a great training camp. I feel like all the pieces to the pie, that we’ve addressed those issues that we’ve seen in film and that’s my goal.

To go out there and have a great performance.

UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, live on Pay Per View.