Tyron Woodley has become one of the earliest fighters to sign with the Global Fighting League (GFL), a new mixed martial arts promotion set to launch next year. Since his UFC release in 2021, Woodley had transitioned to boxing but has now been drawn back to MMA by the enticing opportunities offered by GFL.
The former UFC welterweight champion recently expressed his eagerness to return to the sport, citing the league’s lucrative contract as a significant motivator.
Woodley left the UFC on a four-fight losing streak, but his signing signals a fresh start. He joins a roster that includes notable names such as Benson Henderson, Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, and Alexander Gustafsson — just a few of the high-profile veterans who have signed with GFL.
“I’ve been wanting to get back into MMA. I really just kind of put it on pause — I kind of ghosted it for a minute — but it never really ghosted me when I needed it,” Woodley said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “This was a good opportunity. It had some Ric Flair drip with the payout, and it made sense for me.”
Woodley emphasized his commitment to the organization, which he claimed is paying him “boxing money in MMA.”
“I’m fully in with the GFL. So many people called me and asked if I was really signed because they know I wouldn’t step up to something that’s bullsh*t. I’m not going to be part of anything that doesn’t pay me super handsomely or offer a platform that helps build my brand. Everyone that’s signed — probably 90 percent — called me to make sure I was in.
“The OGs get paid, man. Getting boxing money in MMA is a whole flex, and I’m just excited to be a part of the new wave. I’ve been wanting to get back in MMA.”
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