Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman booked for UFC 235

[mich]

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/1/7/18170823/tyron-woodley-vs-kamaru-usman-booked-for-ufc-235



If Tyron Woodley wants to continue his reign at 170 pounds, he’s going to have to do something no one has managed to do yet.

Beat Kamaru Usman inside the Octagon.

MMA Fighting’s Chuck Mindenhall and Shaun Al-Shatti confirmed with sources that Woodley and Usman will meet in a bout for Woodley’s welterweight championship belt at UFC 235 on March 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. ESPN was first to report the news.

The matchup materialized in the wake of months of speculation that Woodley would face former training partner and hated rival Colby Covington, but despite plenty of back-and-forth chatter between the two that pairing has fizzled for now. Instead, it will be Usman who gets the opportunity to unseat Woodley. Usman and Woodley have had their fair share of heat, taking shots at each other on social media.

UFC president Dana White also stated after Usman’s most recent win over Rafael dos Anjos that he was in favor of seeing Woodley defend against Usman.

In his last seven fights, Woodley has recorded six wins and one draw. He defeated Robbie Lawler by first-round KO at UFC 201 back in July 2016 to capture the welterweight title and twice fended off Stephen Thompson (via majority draw at UFC 205 and then majority decision at UFC 209) before dispatching his past two challengers, Darren Till and Demian Maia.

This will be Woodley’s fifth scheduled championship defense. He is 9-2-1 in the UFC and 19-3-1 overall as a pro.

Usman (14-1) holds an unblemished UFC mark with nine wins since making his debut with a win in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 21. Overall, he has won 13 straight fights, most recently picking up notable five-round unanimous decision nods over dos Anjos and Maia.


Current odds- https://www.bestfightodds.com/fighters/Tyron-Woodley-1299
I will be taking the Champ at those odds.

[peter0425]

Probably a uneventful fight. lol. I'll pick Woodley, there's no way that Usman can out strike Tyron here and I don't think that he can out wrestle him as well. It's either a KO or a boring UD for Woodley. Also a boring win will hurt Woodley image more than Usman.

[mich]

Probably a uneventful fight. lol. I'll pick Woodley, there's no way that Usman can out strike Tyron here and I don't think that he can out wrestle him as well. It's either a KO or a boring UD for Woodley. Also a boring win will hurt Woodley image more than Usman.

Agreed in that this has the potential to be a typical Woodley wrestle clinic.
But, they gotta fight the Champ and Usman seems the most likely and worthy opponent.
Taking a look at "The Chosen One's" record, 19-3 with 12 finishes.
He has gone the 25 minute distance 3 out of his last 4 fights, with the exception being a 2nd round sub vs. Darren Till (handing Till his 1st defeat).
The Champ for -170 seems to be the smartest bet as the last time Usman was stopped was in his only 2nd pro fight back 2013.

[Tavarez]

Tyron Woodley opened as the -145 favorite over the +105 Kamaru Usman. That is the closet opening line for “The Chosen One” since his UFC 209 rematch against Stephen Thompson. “The Nigerian Nightmare,” meanwhile, will assume the role of underdog for the first time in his combat sports career.

[peter0425]

I'm just wondering though why Colby Covington was given a pass by UFC though, isn't he the interim belt holder? Or Dana is building another storyboard for Woodley?

[mich]

I'm just wondering though why Colby Covington was given a pass by UFC though, isn't he the interim belt holder? Or Dana is building another storyboard for Woodley?

Per a poll by Ariel, 79% would rather see Covington fight Woodley then Usman 21%
https://twitter.com/ColbyCovMMA/status/1078370451322224640

Safe to say that all the shit talking going on between Dana White and Covington is genuine, and probably the reason he isnt getting a title shot.

[peter0425]

I'm just wondering though why Colby Covington was given a pass by UFC though, isn't he the interim belt holder? Or Dana is building another storyboard for Woodley?

Per a poll by Ariel, 79% would rather see Covington fight Woodley then Usman 21%
https://twitter.com/ColbyCovMMA/status/1078370451322224640

Safe to say that all the shit talking going on between Dana White and Covington is genuine, and probably the reason he isnt getting a title shot.

Ok. so it looks like Dana White has taken this personally. Not healthy if you're going to ask me, or you can call it a bitch move. I guess if Woodley will win there's no way for Dana but to set the fight between the two though.

[cellard]

Covington is a massive troll, and apparently from what I can remember there is some beef between Dana White and Tyron Woodley as well, I think because of the Mashida fight, since that fight where Woodley played an extremely defensive game to the point that people in public were booing him and Dana was pissed at the lack of action, im not sure if there is something else going on.

As far as this fight or any other fight with Tyron.. I just don't see who can defeat him. Perhaps Khabib can take him if Tyrone goes down in weight and the meet somehow.

[Jating]

I'm just wondering though why Colby Covington was given a pass by UFC though, isn't he the interim belt holder? Or Dana is building another storyboard for Woodley?

Per a poll by Ariel, 79% would rather see Covington fight Woodley then Usman 21%
https://twitter.com/ColbyCovMMA/status/1078370451322224640

Safe to say that all the shit talking going on between Dana White and Covington is genuine, and probably the reason he isnt getting a title shot.

Ok. so it looks like Dana White has taken this personally. Not healthy if you're going to ask me, or you can call it a bitch move. I guess if Woodley will win there's no way for Dana but to set the fight between the two though.

As far as I can remember, Covington has been stripped of that interim belt already.

I agree with @cellard the guy has been a douche bag and trolling Dana for a long time now. Please read his recent rant here:

“Dana White’s out in the media saying ‘Colby’s not taking the fights, we don’t allow that in the UFC. He can go fight somewhere else,'” Covington said. “So what I’m saying is, OK, Dana. Let’s see if you’re a man of your balls. Let’s see if you’re a man of your word. Let’s see if you can stick to what you say. You said you don’t allow that in the UFC? All right. I’m testing you, mother(expletive). Let’s see how big your balls are. Release me, b—h.”

https://mmajunkie.com/2019/01/colby-covington-says-dana-white-a-piece-of-shit-person-with-no-morals-or-values

I'm sure Dana is more willing to drop this guy anytime soon. Might be some legal papers, but I'm not surprised if Covington found himself jobless in the next coming months. The money is still in UFC, he can go around other organizations but I doubt he will get the more money.

[peter0425]

Covington is a massive troll, and apparently from what I can remember there is some beef between Dana White and Tyron Woodley as well, I think because of the Mashida fight, since that fight where Woodley played an extremely defensive game to the point that people in public were booing him and Dana was pissed at the lack of action, im not sure if there is something else going on.

As far as this fight or any other fight with Tyron.. I just don't see who can defeat him. Perhaps Khabib can take him if Tyrone goes down in weight and the meet somehow.

Could be but as President of the organisation, isn't he pushing it too far? Does Covington really gets into his nerve and make it personal?

[bbc.reporter]

I shake my head on Dana making this fight. Colby should be the fighter next to challenge Tyrone for the championship. Colby is higher ranked and might make the UFC more earnings by selling more gate tickets and pay per views.

[peter0425]

I shake my head on Dana making this fight. Colby should be the fighter next to challenge Tyrone for the championship. Colby is higher ranked and might make the UFC more earnings by selling more gate tickets and pay per views.

Correct, that's what I'm saying. All points lead to Covington as the right fighter to challenge Woodley as this point. Also with Covington's big mouth he can really sell the fight easily. So we don't know what's the logic behind White's decision and the only reason I can think of is that he really hate the guy and take everything personally.

[bbc.reporter]

@peter0425. It is politics. Also, it is known that Dana hates Tyron. Perhaps Dana thinks Kamaru Usman has the higher possibility to beat the champion than Colby hehe.

[peter0425]

@peter0425. It is politics. Also, it is known that Dana hates Tyron. Perhaps Dana thinks Kamaru Usman has the higher possibility to beat the champion than Colby hehe.

Yeah, I also know that Dana doesn't like Tyron as well, could be the cause though, but I don't think that Usman has the tools to beat Tyron though, so it's going to be another failed attempt on him to put down Tyron and I'm sure that once Tyron will, he will smack both Dana and Covington, and Dana will be "force" to schedule them a fight.

[NavI_027]

@peter0425. It is politics. Also, it is known that Dana hates Tyron.

Is it even possible? Why would Dana hate one of his talents(that brings money to him as we think deeper)? I can't see the sense.

<snip>

Yeah, I also know that Dana doesn't like Tyron as well, could be the cause though, but I don't think that Usman has the tools to beat Tyron though, so it's going to be another failed attempt on him to put down Tyron and I'm sure that once Tyron will, he will smack both Dana and Covington, and Dana will be "force" to schedule them a fight.

I also feel the same, Usman can't defeat Woodley (IMO). Woodley beat Lawler anf Till and that already means a lot. But well, we can't also underestimate Usman since he got a nice record too, this only means that he is also a tough fighter. So I  think I'm in neutral for now.

[DeathAngel]

Woodley by KO within 2 rounds I think. He’s so explosive & I expect him to deal with anything that Usman can throw at him.

[fakegurutu]

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/1/7/18170823/tyron-woodley-vs-kamaru-usman-booked-for-ufc-235



If Tyron Woodley wants to continue his reign at 170 pounds, he’s going to have to do something no one has managed to do yet.

Beat Kamaru Usman inside the Octagon.

MMA Fighting’s Chuck Mindenhall and Shaun Al-Shatti confirmed with sources that Woodley and Usman will meet in a bout for Woodley’s welterweight championship belt at UFC 235 on March 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. ESPN was first to report the news.

The matchup materialized in the wake of months of speculation that Woodley would face former training partner and hated rival Colby Covington, but despite plenty of back-and-forth chatter between the two that pairing has fizzled for now. Instead, it will be Usman who gets the opportunity to unseat Woodley. Usman and Woodley have had their fair share of heat, taking shots at each other on social media.

UFC president Dana White also stated after Usman’s most recent win over Rafael dos Anjos that he was in favor of seeing Woodley defend against Usman.

In his last seven fights, Woodley has recorded six wins and one draw. He defeated Robbie Lawler by first-round KO at UFC 201 back in July 2016 to capture the welterweight title and twice fended off Stephen Thompson (via majority draw at UFC 205 and then majority decision at UFC 209) before dispatching his past two challengers, Darren Till and Demian Maia.

This will be Woodley’s fifth scheduled championship defense. He is 9-2-1 in the UFC and 19-3-1 overall as a pro.

Usman (14-1) holds an unblemished UFC mark with nine wins since making his debut with a win in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 21. Overall, he has won 13 straight fights, most recently picking up notable five-round unanimous decision nods over dos Anjos and Maia.


Current odds- https://www.bestfightodds.com/fighters/Tyron-Woodley-1299
I will be taking the Champ at those odds.

kamaru usman is very much an exciting and entertaining ufc fighter and im gonna bet high on him since so far he is very hungry and still dominating in every category against his fellow opponents. No offense to woodley but usman is a sure shot, im suggesting that go all in with usman, seriously.

[peter0425]

@peter0425. It is politics. Also, it is known that Dana hates Tyron.

Is it even possible? Why would Dana hate one of his talents(that brings money to him as we think deeper)? I can't see the sense.

<snip>

Yeah, I also know that Dana doesn't like Tyron as well, could be the cause though, but I don't think that Usman has the tools to beat Tyron though, so it's going to be another failed attempt on him to put down Tyron and I'm sure that once Tyron will, he will smack both Dana and Covington, and Dana will be "force" to schedule them a fight.

I also feel the same, Usman can't defeat Woodley (IMO). Woodley beat Lawler anf Till and that already means a lot. But well, we can't also underestimate Usman since he got a nice record too, this only means that he is also a tough fighter. So I  think I'm in neutral for now.

Lol, I think you need to follow UFC more closely to see how Dana has a love and hate relationships with Tyron. Maybe Tyron is a prick and Dana doesn't want him to be a champion, but I don't know, Dana is a a**hole as well. Just look at how he pampered his stars like Bones Jones and Conor McGregor. So we will see if Usman can upset Tyron to make Dana proud of Usman, lol.

[eaLiTy]

I'm just wondering though why Colby Covington was given a pass by UFC though, isn't he the interim belt holder? Or Dana is building another storyboard for Woodley?

The UFC does not make matches that makes sense in the past past few years and i am sure Colby Covington demanded more money while negotiating for this fight and that might be the reason he was replaced even though he won the interim belt, the only person who can demand respect from Dana White is Conor McGregor as the is the biggest super star the sport has ever seen, but if someone else tries the same path he will shut that down, Colby against Woodley has a better story line and will be a much bigger hype but the fact is that the card is stacked with excellent fights and i am sure Jon Jones is fighting in that card too and that will be the main card if that is the case.

[nydiacaskey01]

There are other interesting fights in UFC 235 too aside from teh main event like the co-main event Robbie Lawler vs Ben Askren. Bantamweight Division Cody Garbrandt vs Pedro Munhoz. Weterweight Diego Sanchez vs Mickey Gall and in the Women Bantamweight Holly Holm vs Aspen Ladd. This is a good vhance for Robbie Lawler to redeem himself after last loss to Dos Anjos.