Tyron Woodley Plans 2026 MMA Return at 44 for Final Career Run

Q: Why did Sean Strickland's harsh criticism of Din Thomas push former champion Tyron Woodley to break his silence and risk online hypocrisy?

Sean Strickland’s attack pushed Tyron Woodley to speak because Woodley saw it as a personal line being crossed against a man he considers a brother, not just a coach. Woodley said his bond with Din Thomas goes back to their years at American Top Team and to Thomas’s role in helping build his UFC title run. He described Thomas as “one of the most beautiful minds in the sport” and said he would not stay quiet while people publicly trashed someone who had always stood by him. Strickland’s comments, which included calling Thomas a “shit coach” and a “loser,” made the criticism feel less like debate over bad timing and more like a direct attack on Thomas’s character and value. That is why Woodley privately messaged Strickland and later publicly defended Thomas. He believed Thomas had the right to speak emotionally after Gillian Robertson’s loss, even if others thought the timing was wrong. Woodley also said the backlash had turned into a pile-on, including from people close to Thomas. At the same time, Woodley admitted he had to “catch” himself because defending Thomas on free-speech grounds while attacking others for their own opinions would make him a hypocrite. He ultimately framed it as a tension between principle and loyalty: he did not want to police what others said, but he also was unwilling to let harsh criticism of Thomas go unanswered.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Aug 19

Woodley said he expects to fight MMA again this year, framing the comeback as a final run after last competing in the sport in 2021.
At 44, he said the bigger hurdle is rebuilding his team after coach Duke Roufus died in 2025 and with Din Thomas no longer expected to corner him.
Woodley said he has spoken with Scott Coker, Nakisa Bidarian and GFL, which he said is targeting an October or November launch, as possible paths back.
The return plan comes as Woodley also shifts into wrestling, with RAF bouts booked against Joaquin Buckley on Saturday and Khamzat Chimaev later in Russia.
He tied the comeback to ending a winless stretch since beating Darren Till, saying he wants one last chance to remind fans what he can still do.