Tyron Woodley News

Tom Taylor - March 27, 2017

Over the last year, the UFC has been criticized on several occasions for booking fights that focus more on entertainment than they do on legitimate ranking-based matchmaking. Former featherweight champion Conor McGregor‘s immediate lightweight title shot against Eddie Alvarez, for example, was initially criticized. So too was former bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey‘s recent title shot against reigning champ Amanda Nunes. And then of course, there’s the latest example: former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s immediate middleweight title shot against Michael Bisping. All of these matchups have generated backlash for awarding the title shot to a fighter that has not necessarily earned the top contender spot.

Tom Taylor - March 19, 2017

Last night, in the co-main event of UFC London, Icelandic grappling specialist Gunnar Nelson scored an extremely impressive submission win over a game Alan Jouban. With this win, Nelson reminded the world why he’s considered one of the best welterweights on earth, and set himself up for some massive fights in the stacked welterweight division. Nelson, of course, has never been much of a talker, so impressive wins like this are very important for him when it comes to maintaining the interest of the fans. In the wake of Nelson’s win, his training partner Artem Lobov took to Twitter to express his belief that fighters should do their talking in the cage, rather than outside of it. In this Tweet, he directly addressed UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley, who has recently generated some controversy by calling himself the worst treated champ in UFC history, and claiming that he frequently deals with racism, even as a UFC champ.

bjpenndotcom - March 17, 2017

In the main event of UFC 209, Tyron ‘The Chosen One’ Woodley and Stephen Thompson stepped into the Octagon for a highly anticipated rematch that had been several months in the making. While both men stated prior to the fight that they were looking to go out and erase any doubts from their first meeting, where Woodley took a majority draw to retain the welterweight strap, the rematch was a rather lackluster affair that saw Thompson back Woodley against the cage as both men remained hesitant to open up with strikes. Ultimately, the fight was scored a majority decision for Woodley, who retained the belt once again.

Tom Taylor - March 14, 2017

Over the last few months, UFC welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley has generated some controversy among fans by suggesting that he deals with racism, even as a UFC champion. “If you look at the history of our sport – and it’s not even our sport, the history of the American culture – certain things are subliminally embraced that are racist,” Woodley said on a January episode of The MMA Hour. “When you say to me ‘Tyron, you are well spoken’, what does that mean? Does that mean I’m well spoken comparable to all the mixed martial artists, the 500 UFC fighters on the roster? Or does that mean as a black male in America?”

Russell Ess - March 7, 2017

Coming off a majority decision win over Stephen Thompson at UFC 209, it looks like UFC welterweight division champion Tyron Woodley will likely be taking on the next welterweight contender rather than getting himself a superfight with some of the stars surrounding the welterweight division.

bjpenndotcom - March 7, 2017

In the main event of UFC 209, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley retained his welterweight strap in a rather controversial performance against welterweight #1 contender Stephen Thompson as he was awarded a majority decision. Many, including UFC President Dana White scored the bout 3 rounds to 2, with Stephen Thompson being the winner. With that being said, the judges scorecards revealed that one judge scored the 5th round 10-8 for Tyron Woodley, resulting in that scorecard being a draw, rather than a decision for Stephen Thompson.

bjpenndotcom - March 7, 2017

This past weekend, in the main event of UFC 209, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defended his welterweight championship in a rather controversial fight. Despite many scoring the fight for Stephen Thompson, Woodley was awarded the majority decision following a lackluster performance. Following the fight, UFC President Dana White stated that he believed Thompson won the fight three rounds to two, and that he believed one judge scoring the 5th round 10-8 for Woodley likely made a rather large difference.

Russell Ess - March 6, 2017

UFC 209 took place in Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson. Woodley earned a majority decision after five close rounds of combat that some felt could have gone in favor of Thompson. Both men earned a significant payday but were not the earners of the highest guaranteed salaries for their fight. Woodley earned a $400,000 guaranteed fight purse with a $100,000 win bonus. Thompson earned $380,000 for his title fight competition. This does not include any pay-per-view compensation that is typical of a UFC championship fight.

Tom Taylor - March 6, 2017

Last weekend, in the main event of UFC 209, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defended his title with a majority decision over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. While Woodley’s win was an important one, however, it was also incredibly close, and fairly unexciting as far as fights go. The slow nature of Woodley’s defeat of Thompson prompted backlash from many members of the MMA community, including UFC President Dana White. Another respected member of the MMA community to chime in on this fight was former welterweight title challenger turned analyst Dan Hardy.

Tom Taylor - March 6, 2017

Earlier this month, we learned that middleweight champion Michael Bisping would next defend his title against former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Given that St-Pierre stands out as the best welterweight in the history of our sport, this fight is a big deal for Bisping. Heading into this yet unscheduled contest, however, the middleweight champ is all confidence. His confidence only ballooned over the weekend, when he watched Tyron Woodley and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson rematch for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 209. This fight, which Woodley won with a controversial majority decision, was an undeniably slow one, and one that did not reflect especially well on the welterweight division.

Tom Taylor - March 5, 2017

Last night, in the main event of UFC 209, welterweight champion Tyron Woodley scored a majority decision win over challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, who he first fought to a majority draw back in November. While Woodley’s win was extremely important for his career, however, it was not particularly thrilling. The slow nature of Woodley and Thompson’s welterweight title rematch generated ample criticism from many notable members of the MMA community, including UFC President Dana White. Woodley, unsurprisingly, was not especially pleased with these comments from the UFC boss. The champ fired back at the UFC 209 post-fight press conference, defending his strategy in the fight, and challenging White to step into the cage and fight Thompson.

Chris Taylor - March 4, 2017

A welterweight title fight rematch between #1 contender Stephen Thompson and current division title holder Tyron Woodley served as the main event of tonight’s UFC 209 fight card in Las Vegas. Round one begins and Thompson takes the center of the octagon. He is using a wide stance. Both men are tentative to begin. Thompson with a kick and then another. Woodley charges forward with punches but Stephen ducks out of the way. He presses forward and has Woodley backed up against the cage. Wonderboy with a chopping leg kick. He fakes a side kick. Woodley is looking to explode here. Thompson throws a high kick which is blocked. Thompson comes forward but eats a leg kick. He continues to pressure Woodley. Thompson with a side kick to the thigh of Tyron. Woodley is very tentative to start. He ducks low and comes up with a right hand. It misses. He presses forward and lands a body kick. Thompson circles and then comes forward with a nice combination. He slides back out of range. Stephen in the center of the octagon. He presses forward with a right hand. The crowd is growing restless with the lack of production but Wonderboy is dictating everything right now. A good kick lands for Thompson. Woodley misses with a jab to the body. Thompson answers with a right hand. He continues to pressure Woodley and backs him up as the horn sounds to end round one.

bjpenndotcom - March 2, 2017

During negotiations regarding the return of Georges St-Pierre, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley was mentioned as a potential opponent for the former welterweight kingpin given the fact that Woodley holds the belt once held by Georges St-Pierre. With that being said, GSP has now signed a new multi-fight UFC contract, and will now fight UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping later in the year. Despite Tyron Woodley currently being booked for a welterweight showdown with Stephen Thompson this Saturday in the main event of UFC 209, he was asked about the GSP-Bisping fight during a recent interview on Fox Sports, in which he said:

Russell Ess - March 2, 2017

Tony Ferguson looks to be taking a page out of Conor McGregor’s book and ruffling the feathers of UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley ahead of his UFC 209 interim lightweight title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov taking place this weekend. On a UFC 209 media conference call, Ferguson stated that the interim title fight between Nurmagomedov and himself should be the main event of UFC 209 instead of the UFC welterweight title fight rematch between Woodley and Stephen Thompson. Woodley followed up and stated that the reason he and Thompson were the main event is because he is the undisputed UFC welterweight champion.

bjpenndotcom - March 2, 2017

With an impressive 6-fight win streak, many believed that Demian Maia would be up for the next welterweight title shot after Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson fought at UFC 205. Ultimately however, after Woodley retained his belt following a majority draw, the UFC opted to book a rematch between the two men for UFC 209, which takes place this Saturday. Demian Maia was left without a title fight, and was subsequently booked for a fight with Jorge Masvidal, which rubbed many fans the wrong way.

bjpenndotcom - March 1, 2017

Recently, UFC President Dana White and UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley have continued to trade verbal blows in various interviews following controversial comments made by Woodley in regards to how he feels his race plays a role in popularity in MMA. Dana White wasn’t too pleased with Woodley’s comments, which resulted in the UFC President calling Woodley a “drama queen” in a recent interview. This then led to Woodley responding on this week’s edition of The MMA Hour, in which he stated:

Tom Taylor - March 1, 2017

Georges St-Pierre is the greatest welterweight in MMA history, and after a long hiatus from the sport, he’s ready to return to the Octagon. In a somewhat surprising twist, however, we’ve learned that St-Pierre isn’t particularly interested in attempting to reclaim the welterweight title, which will be up for grabs when champ Tyron Woodley and challenger Stephen Thompson fight in the main event of UFC 209 this weekend. In a recent interview with ESPN (via MMAFighting.com), Woodley weighed in on St-Pierre’s apparent disinterest in the welterweight crown. According to the current champ, this is because the former champ wants to steer clear of him.

Russell Ess - February 28, 2017

UFC 209 takes place this weekend on March 4 and the UFC is bringing you updated behind the scenes looks from the featured fighters on the card with the Embedded series.