Tyron Woodley and Jake Paul will renew hostilities this weekend just four months on from their first encounter.
Paul secured a split decision victory in Cleveland, but the main talking point of the fight was the fact that Woodley was the first man to seriously hurt the YouTuber turned professional boxer.
If not for the ropes, the former five-time UFC champion would have almost certainly scored a knockdown and quite possibly knocked Paul out.
There was many questions as to why Woodley did not finish Paul at the time with Dillon Danis even claiming there was a contract clause stating Woodley couldn’t legally knock out Paul.
Ahead of their second fight, Woodley has finally explained what happened in that fourth round.
“My shoulder was f****** sore,” Woodley said when appearing on The MMA Hour. “I ain’t gonna lie. I wanted to [knock him out] but my shoulder was swollen before and I was just kind of swinging on pure thug energy from MMA, not just giving a hell.”
“When you watch the punch, I punched him, he sprung off the ropes and he went back into my arm,” Woodley explained. “So it kind of hype extended my elbow on my shoulder so at that point my moneymaker was at jeopardy so I had to try and walk him down, make him punch so I could punch straight shots. Straight shots off of his punches, very similar to what I had to do against Demian Maia when I tore my labrum in that fight.
“I couldn’t throw looping overhand rights because it made me feel like my shoulder was in jeopardy. So my left arm and my right arm and my shoulder, they was just throbbing like a motherf*****.”
“I went back and looked at the fight — I won round four, he never won a round after that,” Woodley said. “So that’s four, five, six, seven, eight. That’s five [rounds].
“How would he win the fight if it should have technically been a knockdown. He should have technically got the count but he didn’t. How did he win the fight? I was just so confused.”
Paul has become a king of marketing during his pro boxing career that has seen him amass a 4-0 record.
Woodley says he expects more shenanigans from the Problem Child during their fight week and reveals that Paul has already been sending him some DMs.
“I expect him to do something to try and ruffle my feathers. He’s a kid, there’s going to be some sort of antics,” he told Submission Radio.
“He’s already started the social media stuff, he’s sending me DM’s, I’m already expecting that.
Boxing Betting Offer
talkSPORT BET: Triple Your Rewards – CLAIM HERE
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet max £5 on any sport single within 7 days of registration, at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. If it wins we Triple (x3) your returns, up to a max of £300 paid in Free Bets, expires in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
“The disrespect won’t be tolerated. Last time they got a warning, this time there’s gonna be action, so I don’t think that’s gonna happen.”
Paul and Woodley battle it out on Saturday December 18 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.