Tyron Woodley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tyron Woodley |
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Woodley in 2016
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| Born | Tyron Lakent Woodley April 7, 1982 Ferguson, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Nickname(s) | The Chosen One | |||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | |||||||||||||
| Division | Welterweight (MMA) Cruiserweight (boxing) |
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| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |||||||||||||
| Team | Roufusport American Top Team ATT Evolution |
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| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Din Thomas | |||||||||||||
| Wrestling | NCAA Division I Wrestling | |||||||||||||
| Years active | 2006–2021 (MMA) 2021 (boxing) |
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| Professional boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 2 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 27 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 19 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 7 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 5 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 7 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Amateur record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||
| University | University of Missouri | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Tyron Lakent Woodley (born April 7, 1982) is an American professional fighter. He is known for his skills in mixed martial arts (MMA) and professional boxing. Tyron Woodley was once the UFC Welterweight Champion. He successfully defended his title four times.
Woodley started his professional fighting career in 2009. He also competed in Strikeforce. Before MMA, he was a top collegiate wrestler for the Missouri Tigers. He earned the title of a two-time All-American and a Big 12 Conference champion.
Contents
- Tyron Woodley's Early Life and Education
- Tyron Woodley's Mixed Martial Arts Career
- Tyron Woodley's Professional Boxing Career
- Other Activities and Interests
- Tyron Woodley's Personal Life
- Achievements and Awards
- Mixed Martial Arts Record
- Professional Boxing Record
- Pay-Per-View Events
- Film and TV Appearances
Tyron Woodley's Early Life and Education
Tyron Woodley was born and grew up in Ferguson, Missouri. He was one of thirteen children. His mother raised him after his father left when he was young.
In high school, Tyron was a talented athlete. He played American football and was a great wrestler. In 2000, he won the Missouri 4A Men’s State Championship in wrestling.
After high school, Woodley went to the University of Missouri in 2000. He joined their wrestling team. He became an All-American wrestler twice, in 2003 and 2005. In 2005, he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics.
Tyron Woodley's Mixed Martial Arts Career
Tyron Woodley had his first professional MMA fight on February 7, 2009. He fought Steve Schnider in Columbia, Missouri. Woodley won the fight by submission in the first round.
His second professional fight was on April 30, 2009, against Jeff Carstens. He also won this fight by submission in the first round.
Fighting in Strikeforce
Woodley joined Strikeforce for the first time on June 6, 2009. He fought Sal Woods in St. Louis, Missouri. Woodley won by submission in the first round. After this win, Strikeforce signed him to a six-fight contract.
He continued to win in Strikeforce. He defeated Zach Light and Rudy Bears by submission. He also won against Nathan Coy and Tarec Saffiedine by decision. In October 2010, he knocked out André Galvão.
Woodley then fought Paul Daley and Jordan Mein, winning both fights by decision. His first loss in MMA was on July 14, 2012. He fought Nate Marquardt for the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship. Marquardt won by knockout in the fourth round.
Joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
First Fights in the UFC
Tyron Woodley made his UFC debut on February 2, 2013, at UFC 156. He stepped in to fight Jay Hieron. Woodley won by knockout in just 36 seconds of the first round.
He then faced Jake Shields on June 15, 2013, at UFC 161. Woodley lost this fight by a split decision.
On November 16, 2013, Woodley fought Josh Koscheck at UFC 167. He won by knockout in the first round. This win also earned him a Knockout of the Night bonus.
Woodley's next fight was against Carlos Condit at UFC 171. Woodley won when Condit got a knee injury in the second round.
In 2014, Woodley signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC. He fought Rory MacDonald at UFC 174 and lost by unanimous decision.
On August 23, 2014, Woodley fought Dong Hyun Kim at UFC Fight Night 48. He won by TKO early in the first round. This earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus.
Woodley faced Kelvin Gastelum on January 31, 2015, at UFC 183. He won the fight by split decision.
Becoming UFC Welterweight Champion
Tyron Woodley fought for the welterweight title against Robbie Lawler on July 30, 2016, at UFC 201. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. This made him the UFC Welterweight Champion. He also received the Performance of the Night award.
Woodley defended his title for the first time against Stephen Thompson on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205. The fight ended in a majority draw. Both fighters earned Fight of the Night bonuses.
They had a rematch on March 4, 2017, at UFC 209. Woodley won this close fight by majority decision, keeping his title.
For his third title defense, Woodley fought Demian Maia on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. He won by unanimous decision. After the fight, Woodley said he had injured his shoulder.
Woodley defended his title again against Darren Till on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. He won by submission in the second round. This earned him another Performance of the Night award. After this win, he received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. This was also Till's first loss in MMA.
In his fifth title defense, Woodley faced Kamaru Usman on March 2, 2019, at UFC 235. Woodley lost by unanimous decision. This ended his nearly three-year reign as champion.
Later UFC Fights
Woodley was supposed to have a rematch with Robbie Lawler in June 2019. However, Woodley had a hand injury and had to pull out of the fight.
He was also scheduled to fight Leon Edwards in March 2020. This fight was postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Woodley then faced Gilbert Burns on May 30, 2020. He lost this fight by unanimous decision.
On September 19, 2020, Woodley fought Colby Covington. Woodley lost by TKO in the fifth round due to a rib injury.
His last UFC fight was against Vicente Luque on March 27, 2021, at UFC 260. Woodley lost by submission in the first round. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award. After this fight, Woodley's contract with the UFC ended.
In December 2024, it was announced that Woodley signed with the Global Fight League.
Tyron Woodley's Professional Boxing Career
Fights Against Jake Paul
Tyron Woodley made his professional boxing debut against internet personality Jake Paul on August 29, 2021. Woodley was the first person to take Paul past the second round in his career. However, Woodley lost the fight by split decision. One judge scored it for Woodley, but two judges scored it for Paul.
Woodley had a rematch with Jake Paul on December 18, 2021. He stepped in to replace another fighter. Woodley was knocked out by Paul in the sixth round.
Other Activities and Interests
Tyron Woodley has also worked as an actor. He has appeared in several movies, including Straight Outta Compton, Kickboxer: Vengeance, and Sultan. He was also in Escape Plan 2: Hades.
More recently, Woodley appeared in Season 5 of the Netflix show Cobra Kai. He also appeared in an episode of the Netflix show S.W.A.T._(2017_TV_series).
Besides acting, Woodley hosts a podcast called "Morning Wood with Deez Nutz." He also has a weekly online show on TMZ called "The Hollywood Beatdown."
Tyron Woodley's Personal Life
Tyron Woodley has four children. He hopes to open a non-profit center for troubled young people in the future. When his hometown of Ferguson, Missouri had civil unrest, Woodley spoke out against the rioting.
Achievements and Awards
Mixed Martial Arts Awards
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- He defended his title four times.
- Knockout of the Night (One time) against Josh Koscheck
- Performance of the Night (Three times) against Dong Hyun Kim, Robbie Lawler, and Darren Till
- Fight of the Night (Two times) against Stephen Thompson (first fight) and Vicente Luque
- UFC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- Strikeforce
- 2010 Rising Star of the Year
Wrestling Awards
- Missouri State High School Activities Association
- MSHSAA All-State (1999, 2000)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- NCAA Division I All-American (2003, 2005)
- Big 12 Conference Champion (2003)
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 27 matches | 19 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 2 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–7–1 | Vicente Luque | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC 260 | March 27, 2021 | 1 | 3:56 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 19–6–1 | Colby Covington | TKO (rib injury) | UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley | September 19, 2020 | 5 | 1:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–5–1 | Gilbert Burns | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns | May 30, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–4–1 | Kamaru Usman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 235 | March 2, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lost the UFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–3–1 | Darren Till | Submission (D’Arce choke) | UFC 228 | September 8, 2018 | 2 | 4:19 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Defended the UFC Welterweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–3–1 | Demian Maia | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 214 | July 29, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | Defended the UFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–3–1 | Stephen Thompson | Decision (majority) | UFC 209 | March 4, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended the UFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Draw | 16–3–1 | Stephen Thompson | Draw (majority) | UFC 205 | November 12, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | Retained the UFC Welterweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–3 | Robbie Lawler | KO (punches) | UFC 201 | July 30, 2016 | 1 | 2:12 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Won the UFC Welterweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 15–3 | Kelvin Gastelum | Decision (split) | UFC 183 | January 31, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout; Gastelum missed weight. |
| Win | 14–3 | Dong Hyun Kim | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le | August 23, 2014 | 1 | 1:01 | Macau, SAR, China | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 13–3 | Rory MacDonald | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 174 | June 14, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 13–2 | Carlos Condit | TKO (leg kick) | UFC 171 | March 15, 2014 | 2 | 2:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Josh Koscheck | KO (punches) | UFC 167 | November 16, 2013 | 1 | 4:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Knockout of the Night. |
| Loss | 11–2 | Jake Shields | Decision (split) | UFC 161 | June 15, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Win | 11–1 | Jay Hieron | KO (punches) | UFC 156 | February 2, 2013 | 1 | 0:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–1 | Nate Marquardt | KO (elbows and punches) | Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy | July 14, 2012 | 4 | 1:39 | Portland, Oregon, United States | For the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–0 | Jordan Mein | Decision (split) | Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine | January 7, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Paul Daley | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson | July 30, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Tarec Saffiedine | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine | January 7, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | André Galvão | KO (punches) | Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II | October 9, 2010 | 1 | 1:48 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Nathan Coy | Decision (split) | Strikeforce Challengers: Lindland vs. Casey | May 21, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Rudy Bears | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears | November 20, 2009 | 1 | 2:52 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Zach Light | Submission (armbar) | Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings | September 25, 2009 | 2 | 3:38 | Bixby, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Salvador Woods | Submission (brabo choke) | Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields | June 6, 2009 | 1 | 4:20 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jeff Carstens | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Respect Is Earned: Brotherly Love Brawl | April 30, 2009 | 1 | 0:48 | Oaks, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Steve Schnider | TKO (submission to punches) | Headhunter Productions: The Patriot Act 1 | February 7, 2009 | 1 | 1:09 | Columbia, Missouri, United States |
Professional Boxing Record
| 2 fights | 0 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Loss | 0–2 | Jake Paul | KO | 6 (8) 2:12 | Dec 18, 2021 | Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, U.S. | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Jake Paul | SD | 8 | Aug 29, 2021 | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Pay-Per-View Events
MMA Pay-Per-View Buys
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UFC 201 | Lawler vs Woodley | July 30, 2016 | Philips Arena | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | 240,000 |
| 2 | UFC 209 | Woodley vs Thompson 2 | March 4, 2017 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 300,000 |
| 3 | UFC 228 | Woodley vs Till | September 8, 2018 | American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas, United States | 130,000 |
| Total | 670,000 | |||||
Boxing Pay-Per-View Buys
| No. | Date | Fight | Billing | Buys | Network | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 29, 2021 | Paul vs. Woodley | N/A | 500,000 | Showtime | $29,900,000 |
| 2 | December 18, 2021 | Paul vs. Woodley II | Leave No Doubt | 200,000 | Showtime | N/A |
| Total | 700,000 | $29,900,000 | ||||
Film and TV Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Fight Life | Himself | |
| 2015 | Straight Outta Compton | T-Bone | |
| 2016 | Sultan | Tyron | Wrestler |
| 2016 | Kickboxer: Vengeance | Fighter | |
| 2016 | The Evolution of Punk | Himself | Documentary mini-series; appeared in the final episode |
| 2016 | Breakout | Skinhead | |
| 2017 | Office Uprising | Mario | Post-Production |
| 2017 | The Favorite | Nick | Post-Production |
| 2017 | Escape Plan 2: Hades | Akala | |
| 2020 | ... City | Loser |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bully Beatdown | Himself | Episode: "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow" |
| 2017 | The Night Shift | Travis | Episode: "Do No Harm" |
| 2019 | Hawaii Five-0 | Kalino (Gunman 1) | Episode: "E'ao lu'au a kualima"
"Offer Young Taro Leaves to" |
| 2022 | Cobra Kai | Sensei Odel | 5 episodes |
