"The match up is amazing, I'm an All-American wrestler, he's not going to take me down easily. I know he's looking at making it an ugly fight, get close, put a lot of pressure and thinking I'm going to break, but, I'm in the best shape of my life. I just got off the scale, I'm the lightest I've ever been, my diet has been amazing. I just got my swagger on right now man. He should have fought me in Strikeforce. It's just my time. I'm just confident in my preparation and the gifts that god has given me and I am confident it's my time. 2013 I am going to make a bold statement and you're going to see me in a title fight in less than 12 months."
-- Former Strikeforce roster mates Jake Shields and Tyron Woodley will finally collide this weekend (June 15, 2013) at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, after their Welterweight paths never crossed during their time competing inside the Hexagon. And according to Woodley, Shields should have fought him back then because it is now his time, with "The Chosen One" planning to make a statement in 2013, starting with the Cesar Gracie-trained figher. The former NCAA Division 1 wrestler proclaimed on today's (June 10, 2013) edition of "The MMA Hour" that he's a "nightmare" style-wise for the jiu-jitsu black belt, who Woodley labeled as a "specialist" for his tendency to only look for submissions. And while Shields' UFC career has been less than stellar racking up a 2-2-1 record thus far, Woodley made a splash in his Octagon debut, knocking out Jay Hieron in just 36 seconds at UFC 156. Should he get a win over Shields in Canada, Woodley can perk himself higher atop the 170-pound ladder as he eyes a shot at the division title in 12 months. Will he get there?