Tyron Woodley is a former professional mixed martial artist and boxer from America. He held the UFC Welterweight Championship title, defending it four times during his reign. With a career spanning from 2009, he also participated in Strikeforce. Woodley excelled in collegiate wrestling at the NCAA Division I level, representing the Missouri Tigers and earning accolades such as two-time All-American and Big 12 Conference champion.
April 7, 1982: Birth of Tyron Woodley
Tyron Lakent Woodley was born on April 7, 1982. This marks the beginning of his life journey.
2000: Enrollment at University of Missouri
Following his high school graduation in 2000, Tyron Woodley enrolled at the University of Missouri, where he continued to develop his wrestling skills as part of their program.
2000: Missouri 4A State Wrestling Championship Win
In 2000, while still in high school, Tyron Woodley showcased his wrestling prowess by winning the Missouri 4A State Wrestling Championship in the 160 lb weight class.
2003: First All-American Title in Wrestling
Tyron Woodley's dedication to wrestling earned him his first All-American title in 2003 while at the University of Missouri, highlighting his exceptional talent and hard work.
2005: Second All-American Title and Graduation
In 2005, Tyron Woodley achieved a second All-American title in wrestling, further cementing his place as a top athlete in the sport. The same year, he graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Agricultural Economics.
February 7, 2009: First Professional MMA Victory
On February 7, 2009, Tyron Woodley secured his first professional MMA victory against Steve Schnider. This win, achieved via submission in the first round, marked a successful start to his professional fighting career.
April 30, 2009: Second Professional MMA Victory
Tyron Woodley continued his winning streak in his second professional MMA bout on April 30, 2009. He defeated Jeff Carstens by submission in the first round, further establishing his presence in the MMA world.
June 6, 2009: Strikeforce Debut and Victory
On June 6, 2009, Tyron Woodley made his debut with Strikeforce, a prominent MMA promotion, at the "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" event. He won his debut fight against Sal Woods by submission in the first round, leading to a six-fight deal with Strikeforce.
2009: Professional MMA Debut
Tyron Woodley began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2009, marking his entry into the world of professional fighting.
October 9, 2010: Victory against André Galvão
Tyron Woodley showcased his knockout power on October 9, 2010, at "Strikeforce: San Jose." He defeated André Galvão by knockout in the first round, further solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.
January 7, 2011: Unanimous Decision Victory and Contract Extension
Tyron Woodley's victory against Tarec Saffiedine on January 7, 2011, at "Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine" demonstrated his well-rounded skillset. His unanimous decision win resulted in a contract extension with Strikeforce.
July 14, 2012: First Professional Loss
Tyron Woodley faced his first professional loss on July 14, 2012, at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy." Challenging for the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Championship against Nate Marquardt, Woodley lost the fight by knockout in the fourth round.
February 2, 2013: UFC Debut and Victory
On February 2, 2013, Tyron Woodley made a powerful debut in the UFC at UFC 156. Stepping in as a replacement, he defeated Jay Hieron by knockout in just 36 seconds of the first round, making a statement with his explosive fighting style.
June 15, 2013: Split Decision Loss Against Jake Shields
Tyron Woodley faced a setback on June 15, 2013, at UFC 161. He lost a closely contested fight against Jake Shields by split decision.
November 16, 2013: First Knockout of the Night Award
Tyron Woodley's victory against Josh Koscheck at UFC 167 on November 16, 2013, showcased his knockout power. He won the fight in the first round and earned his first "Knockout of the Night" bonus award.
April 8, 2014: Eight-Fight Contract and Loss Against Rory MacDonald
On April 8, 2014, Tyron Woodley's commitment to the UFC was solidified with a new eight-fight contract. He faced Rory MacDonald at UFC 174 but lost the fight via unanimous decision.
August 23, 2014: First Performance of the Night Award
Tyron Woodley secured a decisive victory on August 23, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 48. Replacing Héctor Lombard, he defeated Dong Hyun Kim by TKO in the first round, earning his first "Performance of the Night" bonus award.
January 31, 2015: Catchweight Victory Against Kelvin Gastelum
On January 31, 2015, at UFC 183, Tyron Woodley faced Kelvin Gastelum in a catchweight bout after Gastelum missed weight. Woodley emerged victorious with a split decision win, showcasing his ability to adapt and overcome challenges.
October 2, 2015: Johny Hendricks Withdraws from UFC 192 Bout
Tyron Woodley was scheduled to face Johny Hendricks at UFC 192 on October 3, 2015. However, Hendricks withdrew from the bout on October 2 due to weight-cutting complications.
July 30, 2016: UFC Welterweight Championship Victory
Tyron Woodley achieved a career-defining moment on July 30, 2016, at UFC 201. He knocked out Robbie Lawler in the first round to capture the UFC Welterweight Championship, marking the pinnacle of his MMA journey. This win earned him the "Performance of the Night" award.
November 12, 2016: First Title Defense and Fight of the Night Award
Tyron Woodley's first title defense was a memorable battle against Stephen Thompson on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205. The fight ended in a majority draw, but both fighters were awarded "Fight of the Night" bonus awards for their incredible performance.
March 4, 2017: Second Title Defense Victory
On March 4, 2017, at UFC 209, Tyron Woodley successfully defended his welterweight title against Stephen Thompson for the second time. The fight was another close contest, with Woodley securing victory via majority decision.
July 29, 2017: Third Title Defense Victory and Shoulder Injury
Tyron Woodley's third title defense on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214 showcased his resilience. He defeated Demian Maia by unanimous decision, but not without cost, as he tore his labrum in the first round, requiring reconstructive surgery later.
September 8, 2018: Fourth Title Defense, BJJ Black Belt, and Performance of the Night Award
Tyron Woodley's fourth successful title defense took place on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. He defeated Darren Till by submission in the second round, earning the "Performance of the Night" award and receiving his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in the cage after the fight. This victory also handed Till his first professional loss.
March 2, 2019: Loss of Welterweight Title
On March 2, 2019, at UFC 235, Tyron Woodley's reign as welterweight champion came to an end. He faced Kamaru Usman and lost by unanimous decision after being dominated throughout the fight, ending his almost three-year title reign.
May 16, 2019: Withdrawal from Robbie Lawler Rematch
Tyron Woodley was scheduled for a rematch against Robbie Lawler on June 29, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 3. However, he withdrew from the fight on May 16 due to a hand injury.
March 21, 2020: Fight Postponement Due to COVID-19
Tyron Woodley's scheduled fight against Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards on March 21, 2020, was postponed indefinitely due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was initially planned to be moved from London to the United States before the postponement.
May 30, 2020: Loss Against Gilbert Burns
On May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns, Tyron Woodley faced another setback. He was dominated for most of the fight and lost by unanimous decision against Gilbert Burns.
September 19, 2020: Technical Knockout Loss Against Colby Covington
Tyron Woodley faced Colby Covington on September 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley. He experienced a difficult fight, facing domination for four rounds before the bout was stopped as a technical knockout in the fifth round after he tapped out due to a rib injury.
March 27, 2021: UFC 260: Woodley vs. Luque
On March 27, 2021, Tyron Woodley faced Vicente Luque at UFC 260. Despite an aggressive start, Woodley was defeated in the first round by D'Arce choke. He received the Fight of the Night award. This marked his last fight in the UFC after an eight-year tenure.
May 31, 2021: Woodley vs. Paul Boxing Match Announcement
On May 31, 2021, it was announced that Tyron Woodley would make his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul on August 29, 2021.
August 29, 2021: Woodley vs. Paul I
On August 29, 2021, Tyron Woodley made his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul. Despite becoming the first to take Paul past the second round, Woodley lost by split decision.
December 6, 2021: Woodley vs. Paul II Announcement
On December 6, 2021, it was confirmed that Tyron Woodley would replace Tommy Fury to rematch Jake Paul on December 18.