From UFC to wrestling: Woodley’s transition
Tyron Woodley is making a significant shift from mixed martial arts to wrestling. The former UFC welterweight champion told Yahoo Sports that he's eager to face Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs in Real American Freestyle (RAF), a rising promotion in the sport. Woodley has signed with RAF and is ready to return to the mat after years in the octagon.
Woodley, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American and the 2003 Big 12 Conference champion, already has two fights set for the promotion. He will take on Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on August 22 and then face former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in Moscow on September 5. These bouts are part of Woodley’s return to a discipline he deeply respects.
The Jordan Burroughs challenge
Despite his booked events, Woodley’s ultimate desire is to wrestle Jordan Burroughs, an Olympic gold medalist. He explained that a win against such a decorated athlete would be a huge personal achievement, regardless of the stage.
Woodley said he would trade all his five UFC titles for one Olympic gold. For him, a match against Burroughs represents an opportunity to fulfill a long-held dream. 'If I beat him, I beat an Olympic gold medalist,' he said. 'It doesn’t matter if it’s in RAF or WWE — it’s a big deal.'
RAF’s rise and Woodley’s role
Woodley isn’t just a participant in RAF’s success — he's also an advocate. The promotion is celebrating its one-year anniversary with RAF 12 in August, and events are now being held internationally. Upcoming matches in Georgia and Moscow show the sport’s expanding reach.
Woodley praised RAF for bringing together high-level wrestlers and MMA fighters with strong wrestling backgrounds. He believes wrestling is gaining traction, particularly with the promotion’s unique blend of elite competition and high-profile matchups.
Fox Nation, the streaming service under Fox, is broadcasting all events, helping RAF reach a wider audience. The promotion also launched RAF Next Gen, a youth development program aimed at building the next generation of wrestlers. Woodley views these efforts as proof that the sport is on the right track.
He added that wrestling has finally started receiving the recognition it deserves. 'The first time in history that wrestling is getting this much attention,' Woodley said. 'RAF is making it look exciting, and I think the concept has been proven.'
With packed events and international growth, Woodley feels the sport is finally being showcased in a way it hasn’t before. He credited RAF for bringing in big names and making wrestling an exciting spectacle.