Tyron Woodley
Active 2013–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 90.0
Scouting report
Seizing the undisputed UFC Welterweight Championship by knocking out Robbie Lawler before defending the belt across multiple championship reigns, Tyron "The Chosen One" Woodley was a top contender atop the division. Hailing from Ferguson, Missouri, and wrestling as a two-time NCAA All-American, Woodley coupled a fast overhand right with takedown defense, highlighted by a 93 Wrestling rating, 92 Strength, and 90 Boxing.
Peak ratings
By edition
Woodley climbed the welterweight ladder between 2014 and 2015, stopping former interim champion Carlos Condit via TKO at UFC 171 in Dallas, knocking out Dong Hyun Kim in 61 seconds in Macau, and defeating Kelvin Gastelum by split decision at UFC 183 in Las Vegas. His overhand right power and NCAA Division I wrestling base are reflected in an 88 Boxing and 91 Wrestling.
At UFC 201 in July 2016 in Atlanta, Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler in round one to capture the UFC Welterweight Championship, then defended his belt in consecutive battles against Stephen Thompson at UFC 205 and UFC 209 and shut down Demian Maia with takedown defense at UFC 214 in Anaheim. His counter-punching power and sprawl defense anchor his 90 Boxing and 93 Wrestling.
Woodley defended his title at UFC 228 in Dallas in September 2018, dropping Darren Till with a right hand before submitting him with a second-round D'Arce choke, before losing the welterweight championship to Kamaru Usman across five rounds at UFC 235 in Las Vegas. His right-hand power, submission opportunistic threat, and takedown defense are captured in his 90 Boxing and 93 Wrestling.
Tyron Woodley, the champion who ended a great reign
Tyron Woodley wrestled at the University of Missouri and took that power into the welterweight division. He won the title by knocking out Robbie Lawler in the first round in 2016. He defended it against Stephen Thompson, first in a draw and then in a decision, and against Demian Maia. He lost the belt to Kamaru Usman in 2019. In a draft he is a compact, explosive pick who can end fights with one right hand.
Woodley's card in detail
Boxing. Very good. His overhand right is a dangerous single punch.
Kickboxing. A weaker area. He sits on his hands more than he kicks.
Wrestling. His best skill. He is a strong, explosive wrestler who could take a fight down or stop one from going there.
BJJ. Solid. He defended well and could hold top position, but he was not a submission hunter.
Strength. Very high. He is unusually powerful for a welterweight, and it shows in both his punching and his wrestling.
Durability. Very good. He recovered from shots that hurt him and kept his composure.
Cardio. The soft spot. He tended to slow in later rounds.
Fight IQ. High. He knew what won him fights and did it with patience.
Wrestling makes his power dangerous
On the peak card his wrestling is the top number, and it works with a strength rating that is almost as high. He can choose where a fight happens, and once it is there he hits harder than most of the men he faces. That combination is a strong argument for drafting him.
The kicks are the missing piece: Kickboxing
Kickboxing is his lowest rating. A tall striker with sharp kicks can keep him at the end of the range and make him work to close in. He fits best next to a teammate whose game can cover that.
Keep exploring
Closest welterweight profiles to Tyron Woodley, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Johny Hendricksbest wrestling 93 · weakest kickboxing 74
- Khamzat Chimaevbest wrestling 98 · weakest kickboxing 80
- Kelvin Gastelumbest boxing 86 · weakest kickboxing 74
- Rory MacDonaldbest cardio 90 · weakest strength 82
- Welterweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Tyron Woodley's strongest attribute, Wrestling.
Draft Tyron Woodley into your build
Tyron Woodley enters the pool on any spin landing on welterweight between 2014 and 2019. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Tyron Woodley is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Tyron Woodley's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.