Last week, rumors began circulating that the UFC was looking to headline the UFC 219 card at the end of the year with a welterweight title fight between current champion Tyron Woodley and former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz. And while so far those plans do not seem to have worked, Woodley says the fault doesn’t lie with him.

Speaking recently on his online show with TMZ, The Hollywood Beatdown, Woodley said that he has already accepted the fight the UFC offered him and that Diaz needs to “not be scared” and sign the contract.

“I’m fired up about people that tell you ‘Don’t be scared, homie,’ and then they’re scared, homie! That’s what I’m fired up about,” said Woodley.

“[It’s] not a possible fight, [it’s] a 50-percent completed fight. You got one half of the party that’s been offered, that’s accepted, that’s out here with their bag at Wildcard Boxing getting punched by world champions and then you got the other side that’s got a whole bunch of excuses. So that’s what I’m kind of fired up about.”

Woodley began angling for “money fights” literally hours after winning the belt at UFC 201 but those bouts have remained elusive. Instead, Woodley has defended his belt three times, with each defense coming against the number one contender in his division. Now, without a clear cut next contender for him to face, Woodley is hoping to finally get his money fight but he says that’s been tough because all of those big name fighters refuse to face him, including Diaz’s older brother, Nick.

“[The problem is that Nate Diaz] is scared. Guys in our sport pump their gums quite a bit and they get you to think that they’re these huge, tough guys, they’re these gangsters, that they’ll fight anybody, anytime. Then when you get in front of a person like me, then the crickets come out. Then they don’t really want to fight. It happened with Bisping, it happened with Georges St-Pierre, it happened with Conor McGregor, it happened with Nick Diaz, big brother, and now it’s happening with baby brother so I guess it’s in the bloodline.”

Neither Diaz brother seems in a rush to return to the cage. Nick hasn’t fought his UFC 183 bout against Anderson Silva, despite coming off of suspension last August. Nate hasn’t fought since losing a decision in his rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 202, and appears to be waiting for a seemingly inevitable trilogy fight with McGregor. Woodley however, seems to be doing his best to goad Diaz back into action.

“Get off the pot, quit crapping yourself, you’ve done took plenty of butt-whoopings before, this ain’t gonna be anything different, get your big paycheck, and drift off into the fog.

“If there’s any fighter that I think that I can fight with my shoulder not 100 percent, it’s that dude. That dude on the other side of the camera that won’t sign the contract that’s always saying ‘Don’t be scared, homie’ and walking around in black V-necks acting tough. Bring it over this way and I’m gonna Ferguson stomp him.”

With UFC 219 just a little over a month away, Woodley will have to work fast to try and get his money fight.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Results. Fabricio Werdum got another win and the rest of the UFC Sydney results.

Results II. Bellator’s return to Israel saw three first-round submissions.

No Time? Volkan Oezdemir was arrested on aggravated battery charges in Florida.

Boomerang. Fabricio Werdum ripped Colby Covington for filing charges.

Big fight. Kelvin Gastelum is happy for a “much, much bigger fight” against Michael Bisping.

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VIDEO STEW

Focus. Watch it.

Free fight.

Roddy breaking down Matt Brown’s elbow.

Oscar calls Conor a turkey.

Trying to box Max in Hawaii because Conor broke the sport.

TJ never gonna get past the Cody thing.

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LISTEN UP

6th Round. Immediate post-fight reaction to UFC Sydney.

Severe MMA. UFC Sydney, UFC Shanghai, Cyborg-Holm, and more are discussed.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

What an incredibly classy move.

Will Brooks statement.

Nate is no fool.

Usman and Till angling to fight each other.

Wow. Majorly messed up if true.

Oof. Eating a two-piece.

DC before the Volkan news broke.

Reunited and it feels so good.

Linton Vassell wants an alternate spot.

Amir Aliakbari says he’s coming back for the Rizin end of the year show.

Savage.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Marlon Moraes (19-5-1) vs. Aljamain Sterling (14-2); UFC Fresno, Dec. 9.

Irene Aldana (7-4) vs. Talita Bernardo (4-2); UFC St. Louis, Jan. 14.

Michael Chandler (16-4) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (22-3); Bellator 192, Jan. 20.

Cat Zingano (9-2) vs. Ketlen Vieira (9-0); UFC 222, March 3.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

If you watched all of UFC Sydney you watched the longest event in UFC history. So congrats on that. This week we have UFC Shanghai to look forward and it starts at 3:45 a.m. ET so get ready fight fans.

Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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