#3 Rafael Dos Anjos
Last month, Dana White said on Fox Sports that Rafael Dos Anjos will be Tyron Woodley's next challenger. It is inarguable that the Brazilian has earned a title shot, but the internet is buzzing with talk of a fight between Woodley and Nate Diaz and in the WME-IMG era, they could be more than rumours.
That fight will definitely sell more than one against Dos Anjos, and considering Dana White's credibility when it comes to public statements, it could very well happen.
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But the former Lightweight Champion will be unruffled at this. Tyron Woodley is the one he must have in mind while training, but if Diaz jumps the queue and pulls off the upset, the new champion's first challenger is someone he has already lost to, albeit at 155 lbs.
Let's steer out of the bay of hyper-hypotheticals and focus on what seems the most likely scenario. Dos Anjos is one of the most methodical and well-rounded fighters in the UFC, while Woodley is a physical freak, whose ability to strategise is very underrated.
Dos Anjos has looked unbelievable at 170 lbs and his topmost priority will be to avoid Woodley's power while landing sharp Muay Thai combos. Woodley might be at an advantage when it comes to the takedown and top pressure, but lingering on the ground against a vaunted BJJ black belt like Dos Anjos could end up costing him dearly.
This is a deliciously tough fight to pick and has all the makings of a memorable contest, whether it ends quickly or goes the distance.