Breakdown: Woodley vs Burns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   (Essentially Sports)

Tyron Woodley

Age: 38

Height: 5’ 9” 

Weight: 170 lbs.

Reach: 74”

Strengths: Wrestler, Overhand Right hand, ground-and-pound  

Record: 19 wins, 4 losses 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                (USA Sports)

Gilbert Burns 

Age: 33

Height: 5’ 10”

Weight: 170 lbs.

Reach: 71″

Strengths: Brazilian Jiu jitsu 2nd degree black belt

Record: 18 wins, 3 losses

 

UFC on ESPN 9 will be headlined by Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns. This will mark Woodley’s first fight back since March 2019. He will be going up against Gilbert Burns. Gilbert has silently been racking up wins and  going up in the welterweight ranking he was a submission champion and has recently fallen in love with his power in his hands and has been ending fights with  KO’s and TKO’s. 

Woodley came out in an interview with Ariel Helwani saying he was, “in a violent mindset”. Saturday night will mark Woodley’s first fight back since losing his welterweight title to Kararu Usman back in March of 2019 . 

On paper, both fighters hold impressive resumes. Tryon Woodley, a Division 1 college wrestler, was on a 6-fight win streak before losing his title to Usman. Burns a 2nd degree BJJ black belt won the 2011 World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships and currently on a 5-fight win streak in the UFC.

May seem as the wrestling credentials of Woodley and the Jiu Jitsu credentials of Burns might cancel each other out and we might see a stand up war. If the fight does go to the ground, Woodley has an aggressive ground and pound game and is a problem on top. Burns has incredible Jiu Jitsu credentials and could look for a submission. But fighting off his back against Woodley will be easier said than done. 

Gilbert will look to stand with Woodley and connect with an overhand right. The game plan might be similar for both fighters; they will both be looking for overhand punches and if the fight goes to the ground they need to be on top. 

The fight has welter weight implications as the winner could possibly be the next No1 contender. 

Both fighters made weight today and everything is set and ready to go for this match up. Tyron woodley weighed in at 170.5 and Gilbert made weight as well at 170 lbs and the fight is officially on. 

UFC on ESPN ceremonial weighs inns will not take place. 

Woodley has been out of the cage for almost 15 months now. Will “ ring rust” affect the former champion? How will the long lay off affect his performance? 

Will Tyron be able to get back into title contention or will Gilbert upset the former champion?