One man's loss is another man's gain. In light of Johny Hendricks last-second dropout from UFC 192, the UFC has awarded Tyron Woodley the next welterweight title shot, schedule and health permitting, promotion officials told MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani on Friday.
Hendricks was rushed to the emergency room late Thursday night after suffering complications while cutting weight. According to manager Ted Ehrhardt, the former welterweight champion suffered a blockage in his intestine as well as a kidney stone. Hendricks was administered an IV once at the hospital.
Dana White announced Hendricks' withdrawal from the Woodley fight Friday morning via Twitter.
Woodley (15-3), who expressed disappointment on Friday as well as a willingness to fight as soon as possible, will receive his show money for the scrapped fight. The 33-year-old also posted a Periscope video indicating that he had successfully reached the 171-pound welterweight threshold.
@UFCONFOX My next fight will be a title shot! I'm not fighting anybody in between! @UFC #UFC I deserve that and my win bonus
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) October 2, 2015
Hendricks, a fighter who has historically struggled to make weight, said Thursday at UFC 192's media day that he weighed 183 pounds.
After being released from the hospital, Hendricks told MMAFighting.com of his health, "the body is hurting bad and sore from it. The body hasn't recovered from it yet, but maybe it will tomorrow." He also admitted a conversation about moving to middleweight may have to take place in the near future.
The incident marks the second time in as many fights that Woodley's opponent has failed to make weight. In January, Woodley was furious when Kelvin Gastelum missed weight by 10 pounds ahead of their UFC 183 fight, which Woodley won by split decision.
Woodley is 5-2 in the UFC with notable finishes over Carlos Condit, Dong Hyun Kim, and Josh Koscheck. He is the No. 3 ranked welterweight on the UFC's media-generated rankings.
UFC champion Robbie Lawler is slated to defend his title against Condit on Jan. 2 at UFC 195. If Woodley elects to wait, he would likely be sidelined until the spring of 2016.
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