The only way to make Tyson Woodley come back to UFC is by giving him a fight with Israel Adesanya! Continue reading to find out the reason behind his motivations.
The ex-UFC welterweight champion chose to part ways with the promotion following his fourth consecutive loss to Vicente Luque in March 2021. Since then, he ventured into the world of boxing, facing Jake Paul in two high-profile bouts. Woodley narrowly lost their first encounter via a split decision, and in their subsequent rematch, he experienced a knockout defeat.
Should Woodley contemplate a potential return to the UFC, one fighter would truly motivate him – former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. This particular interest in Adesanya stems from a personal disagreement that didn’t sit well with Woodley.
During a recent podcast appearance with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Woodley made it clear that one fighter could lure him back to the UFC: Israel Adesanya. He expressed his strong desire to face Adesanya and didn’t mince words, saying he wanted to “beat the f*ck out of him” due to a personal dislike.
Following losing his welterweight title to Kamaru Usman, Woodley expressed a keen interest in a potential showdown with Adesanya. Initially, Adesanya didn’t take this callout seriously, but Woodley clarified that a genuine competitive spirit drove his desire to fight Adesanya.
Woodley clarified his desire to fight Adesanya, emphasizing that it wasn’t because Adesanya was insincere. He recalled when Adesanya wasn’t as well-known in the fighting world. Woodley continued to explain his approach when asked about potential opponents. His response was consistent: he aimed to face whoever held the top spot in the division. Now, with Adesanya at the top, Woodley gave him credit for his achievement.
He made it clear that he never singled out fighters like Nick or Nate Diaz, Michael Bisping, Conor McGregor, or Georges St-Pierre, considering them weak or easy. Instead, he regarded them as some of the best in the sport. Woodley firmly believed you had to challenge and defeat the finest to be the finest.
Do you think Woodley will get to fight Adesanya? If so, who do you think will dominate? Let us know in the comments!
