Tyron Woodley Says Kamaru Usman Didn’t do Anything “Great” in Championship Win

More than a few folks were shocked by how decisively Kamaru Usman beat Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. But, the former welterweight champ remains as confident as ever in his abilities to beat Usman, and reclaim the 170 crown.

Woodley vs. Usman

Heading into the March 2nd, UFC 235 event, most people understood that Usman was going to be a stiff test for Woodley. After all, Usman was riding  a 14 fight winning streak, and like Woodley, the welterweight has a comprehensive offensive game of striking and wrestling.

Well, not only did Usman push Woodley at the event, he dominated much of the action with his wrestling and striking, and scored a clear cut, decision win.

Woodley’s recent comments about the champ

Prior to UFC Vancouver, Woodley was a speaker in a fan, Q&A, and he was asked about his loss to Usman. Here is some of what the 37-year-old fighter had to say (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“Kamaru Usman, skill set wise on paper, I’m a nightmare for him every day of the week,” Woodley said.

“It was a silhouette of Tyron in the octagon (in the first fight). But something happened when I jumped up and stomped down. I think my spirit left my body. So I can give him credit for what he did. He stayed focused. He executed. But we all know that wasn’t Tyron Woodley.”

“I don’t have to go back and watch the film and say the chain wrestling (was a factor). I’m a Division-I All-American (wrestler). When you think about my striking, my resume, it’s not that he did something so great that I couldn’t keep up with. It’s just the fact that it’s one of those nights when you walk out there and everything feels perfect and you get close to your opponent, and your battery pack’s just snatched out of your bag.”

Now, Usman boosters will likely take issue with some of, if not much of what Woodley said here. After all, Woodley had no answers for Usman’s relentless pressure and he deserves a lot of credit for the performance.

But, it’s hard to argue that Woodley didn’t seem off. Or, at the very least, that he didn’t follow the gameplan or didn’t have a solid one to begin with. You can’t help but wonder how the fight would have unfolded if Woodley turned to his own, offensive wrestling more often to counter Usman’s pressure.

That aside, it’s going to be interesting to see what comes next for Woodley. Colby Covington is expected to face Usman next, but the UFC hasn’t been able to sign that fight yet.