Tyron Woodley, the former UFC Welterweight champion, didn’t retire the way he hoped, ending his MMA career with four straight losses. However, ‘The Chosen One’ plans to make a return to MMA after his unsuccessful attempts at boxing against Jake Paul. After leaving the UFC, Tyron Woodley looked to Jake Paul as the ideal opponent to test his boxing skills.

However, as we know, Woodley lost one fight by decision and the other by a stunning knockout, which went on to be considered one of the top knockouts of 2021. But was his knockout loss anywhere close to being a setup? Well, Tyron Woodley has finally cleared all the air surrounding the controversy.

Tyron Woodley planned to knock out Jake Paul in his second fight as revealed

Jake Paul’s rise in the boxing world has been nothing short of remarkable, especially considering his unconventional path from YouTube star to professional fighter. Starting his boxing journey in 2018, Paul initially faced skepticism, with many doubting his abilities due to his background in social media and entertainment rather than combat sports. However, his dedication to training and his brash personality quickly captured attention. The 27-year-old has often been criticized for fighting older opponents. But one just cannot deny the boxing skills of the former social media influencer.

It was the year 2021 when Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley faced off in one of the most high-profile boxing matches. This was their second encounter in the ring, and the YouTuber-turned-boxer secured a satisfying sixth-round knockout victory. With this dominant performance, Paul made a strong statement. However, beyond the outcome of the fight, fans and boxing enthusiasts were more curious about one thing: was the fight a setup? While speaking to Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson he shared the exact details of the fight.

In a recent Instagram post shared on the Jaxxon podcast channel, Woodley made it clear that he went to war inside the ring that day. He said “A lot of people wondered about it but think about this. If I say, ‘Rampage, I am gonna pay you two million bucks, right, let this dude beat you.’, What are you gonna do? You feel disrespected number one. That ain’t enough money but I got paid in that fight. Not for life but something like 20 million. You have to know me to know, I am too solid of a guy to even have someone walk up to me and ask me. What happened to me was what was gonna happen to him had he dropped those hands. Before we fought I said, ‘Hey you can knock me out and I can knock you out. I am gonna try to f…k you up tonight’.”

Despite the loss, Woodley still loves the sport of boxing. The former UFC champion feels it’s far easier on the body and allows him to recover quickly between training sessions. However, the 42-year-old is now eyeing a return to the Octagon and wants to prove he still has what it takes to win at the top level.

Tyron Woodley plans a massive return to MMA after a brief break from the sport

Tyron Woodley‘s career in the UFC was marked by dominance, resilience, and a reign at the top of the welterweight division. Woodley entered the UFC in 2013 and quickly established himself as a top contender with his explosive knockout power, wrestling background, and unorthodox striking. His breakthrough came in 2016 when he claimed the UFC welterweight championship by defeating Robbie Lawler via a first-round knockout. Woodley’s ability to control his opponents with his wrestling, pressure, and power punches earned him respect as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.

‘The Chosen One’ seems to have resumed training and workout sessions as he seeks to make an impact in MMA once again. Claiming that he never retired from the fight Woodley said, during an interview with Forbes, “I’m working on a comeback, not that I ever left,”. He further pointed out how he wanted to break from the sport and wanted to give his body time to repair. He chose to spend time with his family and went to concerts just to take his mind away from the sport. However, the 42-year-old seems to be a man on a mission to make a return to MMA for, maybe, the final time. While he may have lost his boxing fight to Jake Paul, Woodley is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted fighters in the MMA circuit.

While the former UFC champion is preparing for a “big MMA fight” it remains to be seen if UFC is where he’ll make his return. Or will it be a rival promotion like the PFL? What do you think?