The increasingly stacked UFC 235 event in Las Vegas on March 2nd is now expected to feature a welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman.
Sources familiar with the situation have confirmed the fight is in the works, which would mean that Colby Covington has been leapfrogged by Usman as the No.1 contender for the belt.
Usman originally made his way to the UFC as the winner of TUF Season 23 and he’s been unbeaten during his nine-fight run in the Octagon to date.
Along the way he’s defeated the likes of Sergio Moraes and Demian Maia, but it’s his latest win over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos that really stood out, dominating him for the full five rounds in a ‘Performance Of The Night’ that had Dana White hinting he could be next in line for a title shot.
As for Woodley, since winning the welterweight title against Robbie Lawler in 2016 he’s gone on to successfully defend it against Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia and Darren Till.
It had initially been expected that he’d face Covington next, but a thumb injury prevented the fight taking place earlier and now it’s Usman who will get the opportunity instead.
Woodley Vs Usman would serve as the lead-in to UFC 235lbs main event light-heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Anthony Smith on a card that would also feature more major welterweight action as Robbie Lawler welcomes former ONE FC and Bellator champion Ben Askren to the Octagon.
