Sean Woodson (13-1-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) expressed his elation after his TKO victory over Fernando Padilla at UFC Tampa Bay on Dec. 14, stating that he is currently on “cloud nine.”
Reflecting on his win, Woodson told MMASucka that he is still relishing in the moment while eagerly anticipating what lies ahead. He believes he has something significant on the horizon, especially after becoming the first fighter to finish Padilla in professional MMA.
Woodson, with notable wins over Charles Jourdain and Alex Caceres, is now aiming for a top-15 featherweight opponent in his next bout.
Despite initially being promised a fight against the No. 15 ranked Edson Barboza, Woodson ended up facing Padilla instead. Following his impressive victory over Padilla, Woodson is confident that he deserves a shot against a top-ranked opponent.
Woodson has expressed his interest in facing Giga Chikadze (No. 12), Calvin Kattar (No. 10), Lerone Murphy (No. 11), or Dan Ige (No. 14) in his next fight.
To solidify his position in the rankings, Woodson secured a TKO victory over Padilla in the first round of their fight.
Woodson revealed that he entered the fight with a mindset of fighting aggressively, which ultimately paid off with a successful outcome.
Motivated by a desire to become a UFC champion, Woodson aims to achieve this goal by 2026. He plans to maintain a winning streak against ranked opponents, setting himself up for a title shot within the next few years.
Woodson remains optimistic about his future in the featherweight division, believing he could potentially challenge for the title by mid-to-late 2026.
Despite champion Ilia Topuria’s intentions to move up to lightweight, Woodson doubts this decision and believes Topuria may still hold the featherweight title when his opportunity for a title shot arises.
While Woodson continues his journey in the featherweight division, he also shares his thoughts on potential matchups within the division, suggesting rematches and competitive fights to determine the top contenders.
Woodson envisions a strategic path to the title, emphasizing the importance of facing top competition to secure his shot at the championship.
