Kamaru Usman offers advice to Tyron Woodley: ‘Go out there and fight’
Kamaru Usman believes Tyron Woodley just needs to fight.
Woodley, the former UFC welterweight champion, hasn’t fought since he lost his welterweight title to Usman at UFC 235. Since then, he has called out several opponents and was scheduled to fight Leon Edwards at UFC London yet the event was postponed.
With the UFC looking to get back on track, Woodley has turned his attention to Israel Adesanya and Colby Covington. Yet, for “The Nigerian Nightmare” he believes Woodley just needs to fight and it doesn’t matter who the opponent is.
“This whole situation has kind of thrown a damper on things, but I feel like Tyron is holding himself back for god knows what,” Usman told MMA Fighting. “Cause you’re not getting any younger. You’re a talented guy. You’ve got a lot of skills. The only way for you to get back to the title is just to fight.
“Fight, guys. It doesn’t matter who you fight. Say yes to everybody. Go out there and fight, and I know he’s not saying yes to everybody.
“But say yes to anyone that they throw in front of you, and you go out there and knock out enough guys, guess what? They have no choice but to give you a title shot. This whole pick and choose who you want, this and that, that’s not working for you. Because the only thing you’re wasting is time.”
Usman points to a rising contender in Gilbert Burns, on how Tyron Woodley should approach his career and that is to fight anyone the UFC offers. Eventually, you will get the big fight you desire.
“That’s the approach you have to have,” Usman said. “The difference is Tyron is still hanging onto that mentality of being a champion and being accustomed to a certain kind of treatment. You’re not in that in that situation.
“You’ve got to approach it like Gilbert [Burns] is approaching it. You want to put someone in front of me, it’s an opportunity to make some money and knock somebody out. That’s why Gilbert has ascended the way that he has.”
