There was a changing of the guard on Saturday night as Gilbert Burns completely dominated former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC Fight Night 176. Coming into the match after a 15-month layoff, Woodley told reporters he was ready to go to a dark place against Burns.
Well, he got there sooner than expected. Burns dominated Woodley from the opening bell, rattling the former champion with an uppercut that sent him to the canvas. Woodley withstood repeated hammerfists but suffered a deep cut above his left eye by a brutal elbow. While Woodley did rise to his feet midway through the round, he spent most of the frame under duress.
The rest of the fight was more of the same. Burns controlled the pacing and continuously stalked the former champion. Woodley spent much of the five-round fight dancing around the Octagon, looking for the opportunity to land a one-punch knockout. It never came though and Burns came away with the unanimous decision victory (50-45, 50-44 x 2).
It was an impressive performance by Burns, who entered teh evening as the No. 6-ranked welterweight. After defeating the No. 1-ranked Woodley, Burns called for a title fight, challenging his training partner and current champion Kamaru Usman.
“I love the champ, my training partner Kamaru Usman but give me a shot,” Burns said after the fight. “Dana White, Hunter [Campbell], Sean Shelby, Kamaru, I want to fight for the title. A lot of love, a lot of respect for you but I think I’m next. I’m right there. I can fight in July. I want to fight for the title.”
Woodley seemed to be in good spirits following his second-straight loss. In an Instagram Live session, he told his fans that he was "at peace" with how he was prepared for the fight. Despite the lopsided loss, he believed he was "present in my head and body" — a state of mind very much unlike the one he was in after his championship loss to Usman. At 38-year-old, it's unclear what's next for Tyron Woodley.