Report: Woodley leaning toward fight vs. Burns on May 23
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is considering agreeing to fight Gilbert Burns on May 23, he told ESPN's Ariel Helwani on Friday.
Spoke to Tyron Woodley today. He said he’s leaning towards accepting a main event fight against Gilbert Burns on May 23. Fight isn’t signed yet but it’s looking good at the moment, he said. “I waited as long I could for Colby,” he said. “But he doesn’t want it, so I’m moving on.”
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 1, 2020
Woodley had been in talks to face rival Colby Covington multiple times over the past couple of months, but it appears that bout won't happen. Covington offered to fight Woodley on short notice on March 21 after Leon Edwards fell off the card, but the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There were then discussions about a Woodley-Covington clash at UFC 249 on April 18, but it didn't come to fruition. That event was also eventually postponed to May 9.
Woodley, who held the 170-pound belt for nearly three years starting in July 2016, hasn't stepped into the cage since his title loss to Kamaru Usman last year.
Burns is red-hot since moving up to the welterweight division in 2019, most recently finishing former title challenger Demian Maia at UFC Brasilia this past March.
"Durinho" has constantly been calling out Woodley on social media, claiming earlier this week that the 38-year-old turned down a fight against him at UFC 249 on May 9 and April 18, as well as on the March 21 card.
UFC president Dana White revealed last week there will be an event on May 23, but the UFC hasn't formally made an announcement. The location is also unknown. White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Friday that Woodley will likely headline the card, but he didn't mention an opponent.
The promotion's next event, UFC 249, will take place next weekend in Jacksonville, with Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje as the headliner. Cards will also be held in that city on May 13 and 16.