Former UFC champion announces he's returning to MMA after negotiations fell through on three 'big fights' in boxing
11/04/2024 01:03 PM
In what's becoming an increasingly common occurrence, yet another former UFC champion has announced that they're set to end retirement in the hopes of landing one or two more big fights.
It's been almost four years since the last time we saw 'The Chosen One' competing in the UFC octagon, but that could be about to change with the former welterweight champion now teasing that he's set to return to MMA following a tough time in the boxing ring.
Former UFC champion announces plan to return to MMA after boxing frustration
Ex-welterweight champion Tyron Woodley suffered a meteoric fall from grace in the final stages of his UFC career, losing four fights in a row – two decisions and two stoppages.
It didn't get much better in the boxing ring either as he dropped not one, but two results to divisive internet personality Jake Paul, which sadly included being knocked out cold in their 2021 rematch.
Paul has continued taking controversial boxing bouts and is set to face Mike Tyson next weekend at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – an event that should have also included Woodley.
"I was originally fighting on the card, [but] we couldn't find a formidable opponent that made sense," Woodley told TMZ Sports over the weekend, teasing that after a frustrating few years dealing with boxing negotiations, he wants a return to the octagon in 2025.
"You know it's funny because I never retired or left MMA, I just took a break… I was an athlete from the age of 10 to 40, I needed a break because my mind was just always in kill mode."
After his 2021 rematch with 'The Problem Child', Woodley would step away from competition as he looked to enjoy some well-deserved downtime but upon his return, he was met with closed doors.
"And then it was a whole year of cap where everybody – Floyd [Mayweather] wanted to fight, then he didn't want to fight, then KSI wanted to fight, then Manny Pacquiao wanted to fight… Those are big fights so you can't just evenly replace those fights."
Whilst incredibly frustrating, those negotiations falling through might still have been a blessing in disguise as it gave the former champion the drive to turn his attention back to the octagon.
"MMA, I'm making a comeback to MMA – it's been three or four years since I last fought MMA… I got millions and millions of responses and views about me fighting MMA once again.
"It's good that the community remembers the impact I made in the fight game, and they want to see me back – that gave me courage and inspiration, and we're going to see me back out there."
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Tyron Woodley previously claimed that MMA had gotten 'goofy' in his absence
Speaking with Title Sports Network earlier this year, Woodley would claim that the new breed of fighters as well as the wider MMA industry had gotten 'goofy' in his absence.
"To be quite honest, I feel like the space has gotten a little bit goofy. Most of the fighters that are fighting now are kind of our offspring, they watched us and they're doing what we did, thinking they're going to get more notoriety, more money, and increase their brand, but we did what we did because that was us."
Despite being critical of those who have stepped into the limelight over the past five years or so, Woodley did have some meaningful words of advice to young MMA fighters looking to make a name for themselves.
"I think they need to concentrate on individuality, figuring out what three or four things they do uniquely that people will actually want to watch and amplify those three columns.
"Not go and try and stream on Twitch, or try and put a suit on, or try to be a tough guy at a press conference just because somebody else did it. When it's not authentic or not genuinely you, [then] people will recognize it."
