Tyron Woodley: who is the former UFC champion, fight record and when will he face Jake Paul in a boxing match?

Jake Paul is set to step foot into the ring once more, this time to face Tyron Woodley.

UFC champion Woodley will represent a different type of opponent for Paul, brother of Logan Paul, who has won three from three in his boxing career to date.

YouTube star Jake Paul beat MMA veteran Ben Askren in April 2021 after successes over ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and social media personality Ali Eson Gib.

Here’s all you need to know about his next opponent, Woodley, with confirmation of the exhibition fight expected in the week of 1 June ahead of a pre-fight announcement.

Who is Tyron Woodley?

Woodley is a former UFC Welterweight Champion who held the title for nearly three years before losing it in 2019 - a fifth defence of the belt.

Missouri-born Woodley excelled in American football and amateur wrestling at school, competed at university level and was nationally recognised for his achievements.

He graduated from the University of Missouri with a major in Agricultural Economics and has designs on opening a non-profit organization for troubled youths in his hometown.

He has four children, has had cameo roles in such films as Straight Outta Compton and Kickboxer: Vengeance and hosts a regular podcast in America.

What’s Tyron Woodley’s fight record?

His mixed martial arts record reads 19 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw from 27 matches.

Woodley enjoyed a 10-fight winning streak at the start of his professional career from two independent shows and the early years of his time on Strikeforce events.

This came to an end in his last Strikeforce appearance in 2012 before he joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for a first bout in 2013.

His record shows 9 wins and 1 draw from 16 UFC matches, with 4 losses coming in a row from March 2019 when he lost the Welterweight Championship belt.

After more than a year out through injury, Woodley returned in May 2020 but lost three consecutive fights as his UFC career came to an end.

It was reported after his final fight, against Vicente Luque in March 2021, that he had fought out his contract with UFC, after eight years with the promotional team.

When will Tyron Woodley face Jake Paul?

Rumours of a Tyron Woodley vs Jake Paul fight had been circulating in the MMA universe for sometime but it was only on the morning of 31 May when these gained credibility.

Journalist Mike Coppinger of The Athletic wrote on Twitter: “Sources: Jake Paul and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley have agreed to a deal for a boxing match. Jake recently signed a multi-fight deal with Showtime. Friday face-off in Miami planned to promote the event. Paul coming off first-round KO of Ben Askren.”

Both Woodley and Paul teased confirmation of the fight on their respective social media profiles.

Despite his experience, Woodley, now aged 39, last won a fight in 2019, whereas upstart Paul, 24, is fresh off the back of three wins from three in his professional career to date.