Ex-UFC Champion Tyron Woodley: Global Fight League Offers “Boxing Money in MMA”

Former UFC champion Tyron Woodley is making waves with his decision to join the newly-formed Global Fight League (GFL), a promotion set to debut in early 2025. Tyron Woodley, who has focused on boxing since his UFC release in 2021, thrills at the financial opportunities GFL offers, saying it’s like “getting boxing money in MMA.”

In an exclusive interview with Ariel Helwani, Woodley explained his excitement about the deal, noting that GFL is providing lucrative paydays for experienced fighters. “I like it because the OGs get paid, man,” Woodley said. “Getting boxing money in MMA is a whole flex. I’m just excited to be part of the new wave.”

A combination of nostalgia and opportunity drove Woodley’s return to MMA. Although he had stepped away from the sport for a while, the chance to re-enter with such a well-backed promotion was too good to pass up. He admitted, “I’ve wanted to get back in MMA.” “I really just kind of put it on pause, and it never really ghosted me when I needed it, so I’ve been making the journey back in. It was a good opportunity, with Ric Flair drip in the payout, and it made sense for me.”

Woodley isn’t alone in his decision to join GFL. A host of former champions and notable names have also signed on, including Benson Henderson, Junior Dos Santos, Andre Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, and Alexander Gustafsson, making the promotion a notable new player in the MMA world.

Despite leaving the UFC on a four-fight losing streak, Woodley said many of his former colleagues reached out to ensure that GFL was a legitimate promotion. “So many people called me and asked if I’m in because they know I won’t step on the plate and be part of anything that’s bullsh*t,” Woodley said. “I’m not going to be a part of something that’s not going to pay me super handsomely or put me on a platform where the media attention is going to build my brand up.”

With such a promising roster and a pay structure designed to attract top-level talent, GFL appears poised to make a significant impact in the world of MMA in 2025.