Gallery Kamaru Usman def. Tyron Woodley at UFC 235: Best photos view 20 images

Right now, the last image most fans have of Tyron Woodley is of Kamaru Usman smothering him against a fence.

The former UFC welterweight champion aims to erase that, and the best way to do so is to get right back in the octagon.

“I feel like I have to keep busy,” Woodley told MMA Junkie Radio. “Does that guarantee I’ll get a title shot? I think I should.”

Citing the quick second chances ex-champs Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Cody Garbrandt and Holly Holm received after losses, Woodley believes there’s a good argument for another title shot with a second win over Robbie Lawler. The two are expected to meet on June 29 at UFC on ESPN 4.

Woodley’s coaches have predicted he’ll need several wins to make his case given a frequently rocky relationship with UFC brass. But the ex-champ is more optimistic.

A second fight with Lawler isn’t necessarily the return fight that benefits Woodley the most, but he’s approaching it with an underdog’s mindset.

“I think it’s more appetizing for Robbie,” he said. “I’m the one that took his belt. I’m the one that knocked him out, and he didn’t get a chance to beat me. So of course, he wants to try and get that back. You don’t think I don’t want to go back and avenge all my losses? That’s what made Georges St-Pierre great.

“I’m not thinking, I already beat him and it will be easy to do it again. I’m trying to have a crazy performance. I need to remind people what I’m capable of. I just want to get my belt back.”

After he heals up from a knee injury, Usman is expected to face Colby Covington in his first title defense. The ex-interim champ has repeatedly targeted Usman and Woodley in his rise up the ranks.

It’s no trouble for Woodley to face his rival, but he’s even more eager to avenge his loss to Usman.

“If Colby fights him and he ends up winning, obviously I’m going to want to whoop Colby’s ass,” he said. “Then after that, I would want to give Usman a rematch, because I’ve got to get that back. It’s killing me.”

Whether it’s Usman or Covington that faces him in the future, Woodley sees scenarios that favor both fighters.

“Covington will probably struggle in the striking department, but he has a crazy pace, so I think he can push the pace against Usman and get it close,” he said. “Usman has good striking abilities, but he’s not known for one-punch KO power. He’s got decent power; he’ll hit you and knock you down. But certain guys are known that if they touch you, it might be it.

“I think Colby can get close enough and try press him and make it a grappling war for longer. I think the later the fight goes, the better it looks for Colby. But sometimes you see two wrestlers get into a striking war, and I’d have to go with Usman.”

If the current champ retains his title and the stars align to give Woodley a chance to win back what he lost, he won’t be satisfied with a single win.

“That’s probably the best fight of (Usman’s) life,” he said of the champ’s dominant win this past month at UFC 235. “I’ll say that. I want to fight him as he’s at that mode that he was in March 2, and I want to fight him when I’m 100 percent, fighting like Tyron Woodley fights. I just believe at that pace, nobody can beat me.

“Of course, if the rematch happens – not if, when that rematch happens, if he gets through his next opponent, I would obviously give him the rubber match. I wouldn’t be like, I got it back, I can move on with my life. I’d want to show I could do it again.”

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