UFC 228: Tyron Woodley believes Darren Till title fight is “almost personal”
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The American UFC welterweight champion also sees similarities between his past and Liverpool's Till
Tyron Woodley is ready to defend his UFC welterweight title for the fourth time since he won the belt in 2016, but Liverpool’s Darren Till will hope to dethrone the champion when the two clash at UFC 228.
Woodley - aka 'The Chosen One' - will make his return to the octagon on 8 September in Dallas - the first time he’s fought since his decision win over Demian Maia in July 2017.
The 36-year-old spoke to the The BBC MMA Show during his preparations to face Till to get his thoughts on his Liverpudlian rival.
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“He brings a youth and hunger,” Woodley says. “He wants the title, and you hear some people say it - like Colby Covington who talks to about it all the time - but you’ve got this kid who actually wants it, and believes in himself, and thinks he can get it.”
Woodley and Till faced-off for the first time four weeks ago, and probably the most noticeable difference between the two was their height. Woodley stands at 5ft 9in, while Till is 6ft 1in.
The UFC illustrated this height difference further in their official fight poster, but Woodley doesn't seem fazed.
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“His forearms were lifted up, but he’s not taller than Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, and Wonderboy’s build is a lot leaner and he carries less weight because most strikers don’t cut a lot of weight," he says.
“When it comes down to weight, I think I’m going to have less weight because I pack a bigger punch.”
Till is currently unbeaten in his professional MMA career, with 17 wins and one draw to his name. He’s occasionally claimed that he’s “the greatest fighter in the world".
Woodley understands the arrogance and admits he himself thought he was “invincible" when he was undefeated, saying "someone had to beat me to show me that you can lose"
“This kid’s young. Maybe he can be the next Conor McGregor. He’s talking the talk and walking the walk, and I don’t want to be the person that catapults this kid. He’s going to get there eventually, maybe in a different weight class, but I just don’t know that it’s going to happen on my watch."
Darren Till v Nicolas Dalby
Despite their differences, Woodley and Till share a common likeness, having tackled tough times in their teenage years.
“This dude's been stabbed before," he says. "I used to always think that being in the gangs and growing up in a deprived neighbourhood that fighting never scared me. I’m in the car right now, and I just drove past Crenshaw (in Los Angeles) and had a deja vu moment where I was being chased by the police here.
“I thought I was going to die and he’s had that moment as well. So fighting for him isn’t that scary, and now we share something because it isn’t that scary for me either. Everything is equal and everything is constant, but I’ve got that extra kick in my pocket.”
Tyron Woodley v Stephen Thompson
UFC president Dana White criticised Woodley, external for his last performance against Demian Maia, but he’s since been focusing on his striking rather than his wrestling, for which he’s best known.
“The last time I had sparring this hard was when I fought Robbie Lawler, so I was actually excited to get back in there and spar again because I know this kid spars a lot," he says. "I’ve watched his video where they knock each other out."
“Till poses a different challenge. I’m naturally motivated to be a winner, but something that he’s got has caused me to be motivated in a way that I’ve never been. It’s almost personal.”
Woodley is also aware of the power that Till possesses, but is confident that his experience will triumph in the fight.
“I’m a realist, and if he cracks me with an elbow or scoops me with an uppercut, I’ll be hurt, but I think he’s aware that I’ve knocked down more fighters with one punch than he has in his entire life.”
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