BREAKING: Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley Cut From the UFC Roster

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley’s time with the UFC seems to have come to an end. MMA Twitter exploded after it was revealed that ‘The Chosen One’ wasn’t a part of the official welterweight rankings. In fact, he wasn’t listed on the UFC.com rankings, period. Furthermore, Khamzat Chimaev replaced him in the number 15 spot.

Chiefly fans expected Tyron Woodley to be on the chopping block, however, an unceremonious exit certainly wasn’t expected. Fellow welterweight standout Gilbert Burns couldn’t contain his surprise over the news of Woodley’s removal from the rankings. After 8 years of consistent showings for the company, ‘The Chosen One’ certainly departs with a Hall of Fame-worthy resume.

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Tyron Woodley: A overview of an illustrious career

While it isn’t a complete surprise that Woodley isn’t a part of the organization, his decline is certainly noteworthy. Not too long ago, Tyron Woodley was right up there as one of the very best welterweight fighters on the planet. He had accrued four title defenses and managed to best veterans in Demian Maia and upstarts like Darren Till.

However, everything would change once he ran into Kamaru Usman, the current undisputed welterweight champion. Furthermore, he lost three more fights in quick succession. He’s fresh off a submission loss to Vicente Luque at UFC 260, which turned out to be the final act of his UFC career.

Tyron Woodley’s fall from grace can be attributed in large part to a drastic change in fighting style. He moved away from the lucid striking that made him a household name during his early UFC run and in Strikeforce. Instead, Woodley began chasing the single-shot KO that unfortunately never came towards the end of his career. Moreover, at 38-years of age, making a comeback towards the title picture was virtually impossible.

It’s rather poetic to see Khamzat Chimaev be the fighter to take Woodley’s place, thus echoing a changing of the guard. ‘The Chosen One’ who has maintained his love for the sport may very well turn his attention towards Bellator MMA or ONE Championship. There are plenty of opportunities out there for a fighter with his star-studded resume.