Tyron Woodley could be plotting a return to MMA in the near future.
Back in 2016, Tyron Woodley was the best fighter in the world at 170 pounds. He rose up the UFC rankings, knocking people out along the way. He won his first UFC title that year and went on to defend it four times. Woodley was a great champion in terms of taking on all challengers and making the most of his time on top both inside and outside the cage. He is still one of the most recognized fighters in the world and although his career has since cooled off, he is not ruling out a return to the UFC.
Woodley is now 40 years old and has left MMA behind him of late. This is not an end all to his MMA career, however, and he stated recently that he would be open to making a return to the UFC or any other MMA promotions that might be interested.
Tyron Woodley is open to receiving offers to return to MMA in any major promotion
Woodley left the UFC back in 2021 following his fight against Vicente Luque. That loss was his fourth in a row and was the last bout on his contract. He was not resigned and was then a free agent. Following his UFC career came a stint in boxing. Woodley famously fought Jake Paul twice, both losses. Now he is still looking for new opportunities.
“I’m a free agent and I’m enjoying my liberation. I’m enjoying doing what I want to do,” Woodley told BJPenn.com. “Fighting when I want to fight and fighting for the amount of money I want. I’m the only guy in this sport that can do that. I know some guys are just recently free agents but with the magnitude of what I’m doing right now, nobody is doing. To be the trailblazer and the one and only and be the first fighter that can go and box, kickbox, Muay Thai, I can do Bellator, ONE, PFL, or Glory. I can do my own s*** and make top dollar. I’m very thankful, very blessed.”
It seemed as if Woodley would continue to pursue his boxing career following the fights against Paul. He has been calling out several different boxers but nothing seems to have come to fruition. Now it seems he is open to MMA fights as well.
“I have no door closed,” Woodley said. “I’m a businessman, I can fight in any business I want to. I can fight in any organization I want to. ONE, Bellator, Glory, PFL, UFC. I don’t get my feelings hurt in business. I don’t have to invite you to my daughter’s birthday as long as the check clears.”
In addition to his fighting career, Woodley has other business ventures as well. He appeared in the Netflix series Cobra Kai alongside his former opponent Stephen Thompson and has also produced and recorded his own music. He has also done some desk work with PFL.
Quotes via BJPenn.com
