Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is close to finalizing a fight for his UFC return. UFC President Dana White revealed the news in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto on May 1. In the interview, White announced the UFC will hold an event on May 23 and that “He’ll be the main event.”
Woodley is looking to bounce back from his championship loss against present-day welterweight champion Kamaru Usman from UFC 235 on March 2, 2019. Usman dominated Woodley through all five rounds to win by unanimous decision. After losing to Usman, Woodley didn’t fight the rest of 2019. Looking for redemption, Woodley is ready to become a champion once again.
He was scheduled to fight Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 171 on March 23. The event got canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Woodley has been outspoken about wanting to fight Colby Covington as a replacement for Edwards. As of now, it seems the UFC is unable to get the fight made. In the interview with Okamoto, White didn’t name any possible opponents for Woodley.
One fighter that is calling for a fight against Woodley is Gilbert Burns. Burns is coming off of a knockout win over Damian Maia at UFC Fight Night 170 on March 14. Burns has been calling for a fight with Woodley since his victory over Maia. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports he spoke with Woodley and that Woodley is “Leaning towards accepting a main event fight with Burns on May 23.”
The UFC has yet to make the fight official. Both fighters are showing interest in fighting the other through social media. For Woodley, he is ready to fight in the hopes of reclaiming the welterweight championship. A win for Woodley puts him in the conversation to get his rematch with Usman.