Tyron Woodley finally got his hand raised in victory at RAF 12 on Saturday night, ending an insane eight-year losing streak that had fans wondering if we’d ever see him win again. This was his first win in MMA or boxing since way back in 2018, and it was a comeback for the ages.
Down 8-0, Then The Switch Flipped
Woodley pulled off a 14-8 comeback victory over UFC veteran Joaquin Buckley in his RAF debut. Things looked super rough early on for Woodley, who found himself down 8-0 against Buckley. Seriously, it felt like the streak was just gonna keep going. But then, something clicked. He started chipping away at Buckley’s lead with a bunch of reversals, showing that grit we used to know. He then landed a massive takedown that totally sealed the win. What a turn around! Woodley even acknowledged it after the match, telling Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, “I knew better [than to underestimate Buckley]. It’s bragging rights. When I got down, I didn’t lose my composure.” That composure is what changed everything in that fight.
Next Up: Khamzat Chimaev In Moscow
The celebration is short-lived though, because Woodley already has his next fight booked. He’s set to face former UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of RAF Moscow on September 5. This win over Buckley is huge for Woodley’s confidence, especially going into a fight against an aggressive wrestler like Chimaev. If he can pull off a comeback like that after being down 8-0, who knows what he can do against Chimaev? This next one is going to be a huge test, but at least he’s going into it on a win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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