UFC 214 is getting bigger and bigger. The Anaheim, CA card that goes down at the end of July already features a pair of title fights. In the main event, light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier defends against the returning Jon Jones. Then there’s the Cris Cyborg vs. Tonya Evinger women’s featherweight title fight. And now, Tyron Woodley defends against Demian Maia.
Fox Sports 1 had the scoop tonight, with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley confirming the news on UFC Tonight.
BREAKING: Tyron Woodley confirms that he'll defend his welterweight title vs. Demian Maia at #UFC214! Details here. https://t.co/5BukKCCjPy
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 28, 2017
With the possibility that Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler could also appear at the event, UFC 214 is looking to be the promotion’s biggest event to date this year.
Challenger Demian Maia (25–6) is currently on a seven fight win streak in the UFC welterweight division. In his most recent outing, he earned a split decision over the formidable Jorge Masvidal at UFC 211. His only losses since dropping to 170lbs have come against Rory MacDonald and Jake Shields. Overall, he’s 10-2 in the weight class.
By the time he takes the cage to face Woodley, it will have been over seven years since the Jiu-jitsu ace’s middleweight title fight against Anderson Silva.
Woodley (17–3–1), meanwhile, will be making his first title defense against someone not name Wonderboy. After fighting to a draw against Stephen Thompson at UFC 205, Woodley earned a majority decision at this year’s UFC 209.
Woodley announced weeks ago that he was training for a fight this Summer against an unnamed opponent. Despite all sorts of speculation as to who, it appears he will in fact be taking on the number one contender.
UFC 214 takes place July 29 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
