Over the weekend, Conor McGregor revealed that he is currently in negotiations with the UFC and is targeting a July return. McGregor also said that part of the hold up is that he is still seeking his “rightful shares” in the UFC despite having just lost in dominant fashion to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 and having been arrested for allegedly smashing a fan’s cell phone outside a nightclub. Considering all this, one former champion believes he knows what the UFC should do with McGregor next.

Former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, who just lost his title earlier this month to Kamaru Usman, told TMZ Sports that he believes McGregor currently isn’t in any position to call shots and thinks the UFC should have McGregor fight him. If McGregor beats “The Chosen One,” then he can start making demands.

“I’d tell him, ‘Sit your ass down and fight Tyron Woodley at 170,’” Woodley said. “We both just lost in a world title fight. You ain’t in no position to call no shots. You lost, you started a huge religious, culture war, you just got into some smoke by smashing a fan’s phone, you’re constantly in trouble, you constantly get passes. You get through Tyron and we’ll talk.”

McGregor has argued fervently for an immediate rematch with Nurmagomedov but with the current lightweight champion ostensibly set to take on the winner of UFC 236’s interim title fight between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway, an immediate rematch doesn’t seem likely. And as for the other possible opponents McGregor has been linked to recently, Woodley thinks they don’t make sense for him either.

“I’m dead ass [serious],” Woodley continued. “I didn’t think about that until you just said it but I’m like, okay, he wants to fight Cerrone - never been a champion. He wants to fight Nate Diaz - never been a champion. He wants a rematch of Khabib immediately, so do I. I don’t look like I’m getting an immediate rematch so it looks like we dangling around Conor. Come get this smoke.”

This is not the first time Woodley has called out McGregor. The two had a heated moment at the weigh-ins for UFC 205 and since then, Woodley has brought up McGregor’s name as a possible opponent regularly. Of course, that was when Woodley was the welterweight champion, which meant McGregor would be getting a title fight out of the deal. Now, without that on the line, the bout has to be much less appealing for “The Notorious”. But for Woodley, he doesn’t think any other fight makes sense as the top of welterweight is full of guys he has beaten already.

“Who makes sense for me to fight right now?” Woodley asked. “I might as well fight Conor. Where you at Conor? Quit being a b*tch. Let’s fight.”

McGregor has previously competed twice before at welterweight but both bouts were against fellow lightweight Nate Diaz. Should McGregor accept a fight with him, Woodley would be by far the biggest opponent he has ever faced. But ever the gentleman, Woodley is at least willing to offer Conor the hometown advantage when the step into the cage.

“I want to fight Conor,” Woodley concluded. “I’ll fight him in Ireland. I’ll fight him in a f*cking back alley of White Castle. Wherever y’all want to do it at.”

McGregor is currently serving out his NAC suspension and is not able to fight until April 6 of this year.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Ninjaweight. Stephen Thompson expecting ‘straight up ninja stuff’ from Anthony Pettis at UFC Nashville.

Beast mode. Anthony Pettis says he’d never fight Ben Askren: ‘I’ll save myself the embarrassment’.

Absurd. Pedro Munhoz facing discipline in Nevada for UFC 235 cage celebration.

Cannabis. UFC: Florida commission loosening regulations on cannabis ahead of UFC Fort Lauderdale.

Expensive. DAZN to change price structure.

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VIDEO STEW

Wonderboy on TJ.

Tyron the Rapper.

A great highlight reel of 2018 kickboxing.

Conor’s equity.

3 piece and a soda remix.

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LISTEN UP

Fights Gone By. Previewing UFC Nashville and discussing how the UFC will kill 125.

MMA Vivisection. In-depth analysis of all the key fights at UFC Nashville.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Good idea.

Also shooting his shot.

Call out.

Throwing heat

Nice try.

UFC rankings are suspect.

Accusations.

He’s right, though it is obviously not simple nor easy to do.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Antonio Carlos Junior (10-2, 1 NC) vs. Ian Heinisch (12-1); UFC Rochester, May 18.

Jack Grant (15-4) vs. Jai Herbert (8-1); Cage Warriors 106, June 29.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2002: Josh Barnett became the youngest champion in UFC history when he stopped Randy Couture at UFC 36 at only 24 years of age. Barnett’s record has since been surpassed by Jon Jones and he was later stripped of his title after testing positive for steroids in a post-fight drug test.

Also that evening, Matt Hughes retained his welterweight title with a fourth-round KO of Hayato Sakurai. And, this was the final UFC fight for former champion Pat Miletich, who was stopped by Matt Lindland in the first round. Miletich retired to focus on training fighters instead and had a successful run as coach of multiple UFC champions.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Chuck wrote a fantastic feature on Pudz. You should read it.

Also, I’m in Nashville this weekend covering the fights so if y’all see me, feel free to say hi, or even come tell me how much better it was before I took over TMR.

Thanks for reading, enjoy the fights, and see y’all on Monday.

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EXIT POLL

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it! Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, and like us on Facebook!