Tyron Woodley
The Chosen One
USA
In line to box Jake Paul
Woodley has agreed to face Jake Paul in a boxing match, Mike Coppinger of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Per Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com, the date of the matchup is set for August 28, and it will air on Showtime PPV. Woodley is a former UFC Welterweight Champion, but has recently endured a swift fall from grace, losing his last four fights to finish out his UFC contract. While those losses have all came against some of the best fighters in the 170-pound division, it was all but a forgone conclusion that the UFC would not be offering the 39-year-old a new contract. Woodley will instead make the move to the boxing ring to face Paul, who recently knocked out Woodley's teammate and long-time training partner Ben Askren in the first round. Woodley is known as a far better striker than Askren, particularly in terms of his counter shots. Still, he hasn't earned a stoppage with his hands since taking the belt from Robbie Lawler all the way back in 2016. While most expect Woodley to put up a much better fight than Askren, initial oddsmakers have him as a betting underdog of approximately (+125).
Per Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com, the date of the matchup is set for August 28, and it will air on Showtime PPV. Woodley is a former UFC Welterweight Champion, but has recently endured a swift fall from grace, losing his last four fights to finish out his UFC contract. While those losses have all came against some of the best fighters in the 170-pound division, it was all but a forgone conclusion that the UFC would not be offering the 39-year-old a new contract. Woodley will instead make the move to the boxing ring to face Paul, who recently knocked out Woodley's teammate and long-time training partner Ben Askren in the first round. Woodley is known as a far better striker than Askren, particularly in terms of his counter shots. Still, he hasn't earned a stoppage with his hands since taking the belt from Robbie Lawler all the way back in 2016. While most expect Woodley to put up a much better fight than Askren, initial oddsmakers have him as a betting underdog of approximately (+125).
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Ends contract with another defeat
Woodley lost to Vicente Luque via submission (D'arce choke) at 3:56 of Round 1 at UFC 260 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was the final fight on Woodley's UFC contract. He turns 39 years of age in about three weeks and has lost four fights in a row. It appears to be a near certainty that his time with the company has come to an end. Tyron looked confident in the early going of this one. He cracked Luque multiple times and did a nice job of forcing his opposition up against the fence. Unfortunately for Woodley, one right hand from Luque put him back on his heels, and he was never able to recover. Woodley was guilty of being way too passive in his prior three defeats, and in this one was he was too aggressive. This was the first submission loss of his career. Tyron's last couple years were unquestionably an unmitigated disaster, but this is a guy who went 8-1-1 over a 10-fight stretch from November 2013 to September 2018, won the UFC Welterweight Championship, and defeated names such as Darren Till, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Robbie Lawler, Kelvin Gastelum, and Carlos Condit. Woodley's place in company history is secure despite his recent struggles. At the very least, he'll walk away with a $50,000 parting gift after this quick, action-packed bout was named Fight of the Night.
This was the final fight on Woodley's UFC contract. He turns 39 years of age in about three weeks and has lost four fights in a row. It appears to be a near certainty that his time with the company has come to an end. Tyron looked confident in the early going of this one. He cracked Luque multiple times and did a nice job of forcing his opposition up against the fence. Unfortunately for Woodley, one right hand from Luque put him back on his heels, and he was never able to recover. Woodley was guilty of being way too passive in his prior three defeats, and in this one was he was too aggressive. This was the first submission loss of his career. Tyron's last couple years were unquestionably an unmitigated disaster, but this is a guy who went 8-1-1 over a 10-fight stretch from November 2013 to September 2018, won the UFC Welterweight Championship, and defeated names such as Darren Till, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Robbie Lawler, Kelvin Gastelum, and Carlos Condit. Woodley's place in company history is secure despite his recent struggles. At the very least, he'll walk away with a $50,000 parting gift after this quick, action-packed bout was named Fight of the Night.
Eyeing March return
The UFC is finalizing a welterweight fight between Woodley (ribs) and Vicente Luque for March 27 at UFC 260, Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Woodley was suspended six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission back in late September so this fight date lines up right with then he was allowed to return. The 38-year-old will step back in the octagon despite many convinced he should hang it up. Woodley has lost three fights in a row dating back to his championship meeting with Kamaru Usman on March 2 and it's currently the only mark in his career he's lost multiple fights in a row. He'll look to turn it around against Luque who is on a two-fight win streak and is hungry to potentially jump Woodley in the UFC welterweight ranking with a win. The location for the bout has yet to be determined but early reports are indicating it'll be held at the UFC Apex center in Las Vegas.
Woodley was suspended six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission back in late September so this fight date lines up right with then he was allowed to return. The 38-year-old will step back in the octagon despite many convinced he should hang it up. Woodley has lost three fights in a row dating back to his championship meeting with Kamaru Usman on March 2 and it's currently the only mark in his career he's lost multiple fights in a row. He'll look to turn it around against Luque who is on a two-fight win streak and is hungry to potentially jump Woodley in the UFC welterweight ranking with a win. The location for the bout has yet to be determined but early reports are indicating it'll be held at the UFC Apex center in Las Vegas.
Long medical suspension
Woodley (ribs) has been suspended six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission pending medical clearance of a left costochondral tear, Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
No surprises here, as Woodley has made public that he did indeed fracture his ribs in Saturday's lopsided loss to Colby Covington. He's now officially set for some time on the sidelines, and at 38 years old and arguably on a 15-round losing streak, the sun could soon be setting on a long and storied career. There's no doubt he could still be competitive against many middle-tier welterweights, but when even UFC President Dana White has suggested he needs to consider retirement, it's unlikely Woodley is matched up against the higher-caliber fighters he'd need to beat to make another title run.
No surprises here, as Woodley has made public that he did indeed fracture his ribs in Saturday's lopsided loss to Colby Covington. He's now officially set for some time on the sidelines, and at 38 years old and arguably on a 15-round losing streak, the sun could soon be setting on a long and storied career. There's no doubt he could still be competitive against many middle-tier welterweights, but when even UFC President Dana White has suggested he needs to consider retirement, it's unlikely Woodley is matched up against the higher-caliber fighters he'd need to beat to make another title run.
Fractures rib in loss to Covington
Woodley sustained a fractured rib during his loss to Colby Covington on Saturday at the UFC's event in Las Vegas, Danny Segura of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Woodley appeared to pick up the injury when he latched on to Covington's guillotine choke in the fifth and final round of the fight, as the 38-year-old audibly yelled in pain before the referee awarded Covington the TKO win. Though a timeline for Woodley's return from the injury hasn't been established, his days in the UFC could be nearing an end regardless of his health. "The Chosen One" has now lost three fights in a row, dropping his career MMA record to 19-6-1.
Woodley appeared to pick up the injury when he latched on to Covington's guillotine choke in the fifth and final round of the fight, as the 38-year-old audibly yelled in pain before the referee awarded Covington the TKO win. Though a timeline for Woodley's return from the injury hasn't been established, his days in the UFC could be nearing an end regardless of his health. "The Chosen One" has now lost three fights in a row, dropping his career MMA record to 19-6-1.
Another non-competitive showing
Woodley lost to Colby Covington via TKO (injury) at 1:19 of Round 5 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Woodley might not be done in the sense of retirement, but he's certainly finished in terms of fights that impact the title picture at 170 pounds. This was Woodley's third straight defeat and almost marked the third straight fight in which he wasn't the least bit competitive. Yes, those three defeats have come against the three best welterweights in the world in Covington, Gilbert Burns and current champion Kamaru Usman, but T-Wood's inability to generate any offense whatsoever has been absolutely shocking. It's almost as if Woodley has accepted defeat before the bout even begins. He is fighting with zero urgency and is accepting competing in compromising positions. The finish on Saturday came when Woodley was going for a token guillotine and appeared to pop a rib. It's very unfortunate because Woodley was one of the best fighters in the world not all that long ago, but he is currently on the same career path as names such as Johny Hendricks and Renan Barao. That's not a path you want to be on. Woodley turns 39 years of age next April.
Woodley might not be done in the sense of retirement, but he's certainly finished in terms of fights that impact the title picture at 170 pounds. This was Woodley's third straight defeat and almost marked the third straight fight in which he wasn't the least bit competitive. Yes, those three defeats have come against the three best welterweights in the world in Covington, Gilbert Burns and current champion Kamaru Usman, but T-Wood's inability to generate any offense whatsoever has been absolutely shocking. It's almost as if Woodley has accepted defeat before the bout even begins. He is fighting with zero urgency and is accepting competing in compromising positions. The finish on Saturday came when Woodley was going for a token guillotine and appeared to pop a rib. It's very unfortunate because Woodley was one of the best fighters in the world not all that long ago, but he is currently on the same career path as names such as Johny Hendricks and Renan Barao. That's not a path you want to be on. Woodley turns 39 years of age next April.