Tyron Woodley narrowly defended his welterweight title in a rematch with Stephen Thompson tonight at UFC 209, adopting a cautious approach for much of the fight, but landing a big flurry late in the final round that helped him on his way to a majority decision win.
Round One:
The main event welterweight title rematch is underway in Las Vegas!
Woodley settles on the outside as he did in their first encounter just a few months ago. Thompson with a side kick and then Woodley charges forward with a flurry of punches that back his opponent up across the cage.
Not for long though as Thompson goes back to claiming the center of the Octagon. Big head kick attempt from Thompson is blocked.
Not much offense thrown so far from either man. Almost a minute goes by without anything meaningful happening. Woodley tries a head kick that misse and soon after Thompson does likewise.
Suddenly Thompson steps in with a two-punch combo and then backs out again.
Crowd getting restless at the lack of action. Woodley with a leg kick. Kick from Thompson and a harder one in return to the leg from Woodley.
No sign of a takedown so far from Woodley which is a bit surprising. The round fizzles out with both fighters still looking very cautious in their approach.
Round Two:
Front leg kick side kick attempt for Thompson. Woodley pressing forward for a change and launches a couple of punches that don’t connect.
Woodley sticking to the center of the Octagon for now and lands a body punch. He’s backing up to the outside now though. Thompson flicks out the straight left.
Another couple of left hands from Thompson. Crowd cranking up the boo’s again. Thompson flicking out the jab sporadically and Woodley just isn’t throwing anything.
Woodley finally bursts forward with a short flurry, but not with much behind it and Thompson moves away from the majority of it.
Thompson with a head kick of the front leg, but it only grazes the target. Side kick to the body for Thompson that lands.
Second round comes to an end with another body kick from Thompson. Woodley needs to start getting busy if he wants to retain his title. He can’t go five rounds like this.
Round Three:
Finally Woodley changes things up to start the third round, rushing in for a takedown. He presses Thompson up against the cage and then is able to get his opponent to the canvas.
Woodley in half guard now and pressing Thompson’s head awkwardly against the cage as he starts landing some ground and pound shots.
Thompson uses the cage to stand back up, but he eats a solid knee to the body in the process. ‘Wonderboy’ turns Woodley into the cage and then waits for his moment to break apart and get back to striking range.
Thompson with a left hand. Now a body punch. Another body strike and then a kick upstairs. He connects with a left hand to the chin.
Final minute of the third and Thompson lands a side kick to the body. Thompson to the body and then misses with punches upstairs.
Woodley with a left hand then a hard right behind it that lands clean. Thompson goes body-head with a combination of punches.
Big left hook for Thompson to end the round.
Round Four:
Winging right hand from Woodley and a kick in return from Thompson. Woodley again presses forward with an overhand attempt that misses. He tries to flurry, but Thompson is an elusive target.
Woodley back on the outside. Woodley tries a kick and Thompson immediately works a couple of counterpunches.
Out of nowhere a wheel kick attempt from Thompson that’s blocked by Woodley. Head kick off the front leg from Thompson. VEry surprising that like the first fight between these two, Woodley isn’t utilizing his takedowns as often as you’d expect him to.
Side kick to the body for Thompson. Leg kick for Woodley. Thompson with a left, then Woodley finds a home for a right.
Head kick from Thompson. Woodley lands a punch to the chest of Thompson. Body kick for Woodley.
Round Five:
Woodley’s corner urging him to go for a finish in the final round and that sounds like good advice.
Nice right hand for Woodley to start the round. Now it’s Thompson’s turn to work on the outside for a moment, but then he gradually works his way back to the center.
Woodley with a flurry, but Thompson lands a side kick to the body to slow his progress. Low leg kick for Thompson. Woodley still cautious waiting for his moment to strike.
Woodley reaches for a takedown, but Thompson gets away easily. Thompson still light on his feet and moving away from Woodley now.
Body punch for Thompson. Now a head kick high to the upper body. Woodley misses with a one-two, but does land a right hand shortly afterwards.
Woodley trying to flurry, but Thompson is backing away from danger. 35 seconds to go and suddenly Woodley drops Thompson with a huge punch, sending him sliding backwards on the mat!! At last Woodley has come to life and he tries to put the challenger away, but Thompson stands, only to be dropped hard again.
Thompson uses the cage to stand back up and backs away unsteadily, hoping to clear the cobwebs. Woodley comes after him, but can’t close the distance enough to land one final big flurry.
That was very close to a stoppage in the final seconds, but Thompson survives and takes this to the judges.
Decision:
The judges are taking their time to come to a conclusion here. At last Bruce Buffer reads the result, and it’s extremely close, but Woodley has done just enough to scrape together a majority decision victory (48-47 x2, 47-47).
That’s definitely a controversial one, with Woodley only really coming to life twice in the fight, once with his takedown and ground and pound in the third and then his excellent flurry at the end of the fifth.
