Just when I thought I was out, they (contractually) pull me back in.
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley promised to rid the combat sports world of the Jake Paul virus, but even if “The Chosen One” manages to stiffen the social media star later this summer, their rivalry will likely live on through 2022.
“Jake Paul’s team negotiated an automatic rematch clause,” Woodley’s manager, Malki Kawa, told MMA Fighting. “That’s how much this is a scary fight to them. If we win this fight, if Jake Paul wants it, then we have to run it back with him.”
Woodley is boxing Paul in order to collect a multi-million dollar payday, according to Kawa, and get some revenge for Ben Askren’s loss in the process. “Funky,” a longtime friend and training partner of “The Chosen One,” was flattened by Paul last April.
“This is a major, legacy fight,” Kawa continued. “Could you imagine if Tyron Woodley has lost his last four fights, comes in, demolishes this guy or say it’s a really good fight, Tyron pulls it out, goes and does another rematch, gets paid even more for the rematch. Let’s say beat him twice in a row and then decided to hang the gloves up forever.”
Woodley, who turned 39 just a few weeks back, parted ways with UFC after dropping four straight bouts. No question his fighting future — specifically his value to other combat sports promotions — depends on the outcome of his Paul contest in August.