Former UFC Champion Announces His MMA Return

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: A close-up look at the champion's belt belonging to Tyron Woodley from the United States, following his fight that ended in a majority draw against Stephen Thompson, also from the United States, in their welterweight title match at UFC 205. This event took place at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2016, in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Ex-UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is not finished with mixed martial arts yet.

I recently chatted with the 42-year-old, and he mentioned that he plans to make a comeback in the sport, although he hasn't officially confirmed which promotion he'll be with. During our exclusive conversation, Woodley shared as much information as he could.

“I’m focusing on a return, not that I’ve really been away,” Woodley stated.

Woodley hasn't competed in mixed martial arts since March 2021, when he was defeated by Vicente Luque by submission in the first round. Following that, Woodley suffered two consecutive losses in boxing matches against Jake Paul.

The second defeat was particularly crushing, as it occurred in a match that was one of the leading contenders for Knockout of the Year in 2021.

Jake Paul, a popular figure on YouTube, scored a knockout against Tyron Woodley, the former UFC welterweight champion, during an eight-round cruiserweight match held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on December 18, 2021. (Image by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

"I needed a break to get back to feeling like myself," Woodley shared. "In 2022, after my two matches with Jake, I decided to spend the following years traveling and enjoying concerts."

Woodley revealed that he has launched a promotional company named TRIP, which stands for The Realest International Promotions. Despite this new venture, he is still open to the possibility of competing against other prominent fighters.

"In 2023, there was a lot of talk," Woodley explained. "Many claimed they wanted to have a match; Floyd expressed his desire to fight. Manny also mentioned he was interested. KSI showed his willingness too. Although one was tied to a contract, nothing materialized."

The matchup against KSI promised to be thrilling and could have given Woodley a chance to prove himself once again in the arena of influencer boxing, all while earning some money. However, it looks like Woodley is preparing to return to the cage, where he has the greatest expertise as a professional fighter.

"With everything set up, I can now concentrate on getting my body back in shape and preparing for more challenges ahead," Woodley stated.

Although Woodley stated that he would return to MMA, he also emphasized that he wasn’t finished with boxing. When I inquired if his comeback would be in the UFC, Woodley replied that he couldn't reveal any details at this point.

You can watch the full segment of our interview in the video below.

If Woodley makes a comeback to MMA, it's possible he could secure a position with the UFC. Similarly, Jorge Masvidal, another well-known fighter, has recently shown a desire to compete in the UFC once more.

Masvidal expressed interest in battling Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, or Michael Chandler, but facing Woodley wouldn’t be a bad idea either. Woodley’s history with the UFC has been somewhat tumultuous, so it’s uncertain whether he and Dana White would be able to reach an understanding for a comeback in the Octagon.

If Woodley joins PFL or Bellator, I wouldn't be shocked to see him matched up against someone like Yoel Romero.

We'll probably know before long.