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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun

Tyron Woodley would only return to the UFC ‘to beat the f*ck out of Israel Adesanya’

There’s only one fighter that would make Tyron Woodley fight in the UFC again.

Woodley, a former UFC welterweight champion, fought out his contract after his fourth-straight loss to Vicente Luque in March 2021, and ended up parting ways with the promotion.

He has since boxed Jake Paul twice, losing their first bout by split decision, then their rematch by knockout. If Woodley were to ever return to the UFC, only former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya would entice him – simply because of a misunderstanding that rubbed him the wrong way.

“The only thing that would get me back to the UFC, the only person I would just want to beat the f*ck out of is Israel Adesanya,” Woodley said on the JAXXON PODCAST with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. “I don’t like him.”

After losing his welterweight title to Kamaru Usman, Woodley expressed interest in a future fight with Adesanya – a callout which was laughed off by “The Stylebender.” But Woodley says his desire to fight Adesanya came early, and it was simply to test himself competitively.

“Because he cap,” Woodley explained. “He was never Israel Adesanya. ‘How do I do this again? I filter myself now … Israel Adesanya.’ I get on the same show, TMZ, they asked me who was next up. I said, ‘I like this Israel kid. He’s kind of different, but he’s got some pizazz. He’s got his own character. He’s flashy, but he’s a good martial artist. I think he’s the next one to watch out for.’ This is when he first started. I already gave you respect.

“Then they asked me who did I want to fight? Whoever is at the top. So you’re at the top, my brother, so salute. I never wanted to fight Nick or Nate (Diaz) or (Michael) Bisping, or Conor (McGregor), or Georges (St-Pierre) because I thought they were weak, easy or they were whack. I thought they was the best. To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”

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