Tyron Woodley‘s boxing detour was never supposed to feel like this. What began as curiosity and crossover appeal has gradually become uncomfortable, particularly after last weekend’s setback, which left little room for nostalgia or argument. The former UFC welterweight champion was back in the spotlight, but not for reinvention—this time, it was for how abruptly the night ended.

The silence did not last long. In a sport where setbacks are rarely overlooked, Colby Covington responded with words sharper than any blow. What he portrayed as an offer was full of malice, aiming directly at Woodley’s pride, legacy, and current reality.

Colby Covington turns Tyron Woodley’s loss into an opening

Colby Covington did not soften the moment. He leaned into it. After ‘The Chosen One’ was stopped by Anderson Silva with a vicious uppercut, Covington went public, mocking his decline from championship contention to boxing failure. ‘Chaos’ portrayed Tyron Woodley as a former great clinging to relevance, accusing him of chasing paydays rather than peace.

“You used to fight for championships; now you’re out here selling the last of your dignity, taking beatings from YouTubers and geriatrics,” he said in a video he posted on his social media. The central theme of Colby Covington’s rant was identity, not boxing. He outright dismissed Woodley’s time in the ring, claiming it never matched who he was.

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In the 37-year-old’s opinion, the solution was not another crossover bout or a viral payout, but a return to wrestling, the discipline that Woodley previously defined before fame complicated it. Covington said, “Quit boxing, cause you never were a boxer. You were an All-American and Big 12 champion in wrestling, so come on over to Real American Freestyles.”

‘Chaos’ positioned himself as the gatekeeper, claiming he’d give Tyron Woodley one final purpose once he handled his own business on January 10. The timing mattered. Colby Covington is coming off years of inactivity and a stoppage defeat to Joaquin Buckley. His scheduled return against Luke Rockhold is more than just another fight; it’s an opportunity to remind people that he still belongs.

So, it looks like it wasn’t a random decision to call out ‘The Chose Now’ right now. It tied Covington’s comeback to Woodley’s decline, merging two stalled narratives into one. Now it would be interesting to see whether Woodley reacts to it or not, especially considering the fact that he isn’t done with boxing just yet.

Woodley provides an update on his fighting future

Before ‘Chaos’ ever inserted himself into the conversation, Tyron Woodley had already spoken. In the immediate aftermath of Silva’s knockout, as doubts about finality arose, ‘The Chosen One’ chose to address his future immediately. And from his words, it looked like he simply refuses to let the loss write the ending for him.

His message on his Instagram story had no animosity. Instead, Tyron Woodley framed the moment through faith and perspective, writing, “I’m good. God is GREAT!” He accepted the setback by dubbing Anderson Silva “a GOAT” before ending with a brief statement that left little room for interpretation: “I’ll be back!”

That context reshapes how Colby Covington’s subsequent callout is received. When the 37-year-old spoke, ‘The Chosen One’ hadn’t given in to pressure or gone silent; he had already set his line. While Covington discussed endings and mercy, Woodley made it obvious that he was not done. Whether that belief translates into results is another question, but the goal was clear: this wasn’t a fighter to be written off.