Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com.
Tyron Woodley wasn’t Jake Paul’s initial opponent choice for Dec. 18, but the former UFC champion has been preparing to fight him anyway.
With Tommy Fury out as a result of health and injury problems, Woodley will get his rematch against Paul when he steps in on two weeks’ notice to face the YouTube star in an eight-round boxing match at Amelie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) defeated Woodley (0-1) by a split decision this past August, but it didn’t come without a bit of adversity. Woodley was able to knock Paul into the ropes in Round 4, but overall, Woodley was tentative while Paul was more active.
Woodley has been campaigning for a rematch ever since the fight ended and had an inkling that he would get his wish eventually, which is why he’s been training hard for the past couple of months.
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“I want to let you guys know I’m excited about this fight,” Woodley said on Instagram (h/t MMA Crazy). “I also want to let you guys know that something told me end of September, beginning of October, I told my boxing coach, ‘My spirit ain’t sitting right. The fight that’s supposed to happen is me and Jake. This Tommy Fury fight doesn’t even make f—ing sense. Like, who gives a f— about that fight? Nobody does.’ This fight was unfinished business. I feel like I won the fight.
“Of course, do I want to knock this motherf—-r out? Yeah, I wanted to knock him the f— out. But the cookie crumbled the way it did, and I feel like it’s been a movie from the beginning. I told my coach that, and I didn’t just speak it and tell him that, I said, ‘Watch what I’m telling you.’ I told my strength and conditioning coach, and I told my boxing coach, ‘This fight ain’t gonna happen. Let’s train as if we are fighting for this f—ing fight.’ I flew him in from Miami – my strength and conditioning coach is already in St. Louis – and I literally started training.”
Paul announced that Woodley will earn an extra $500,000 if he’s able to finish the fight, and “The Chosen One” vows to come through.
“One thing I know for sure, my spirit has never been f—ing wrong,” Woodley said. “My intuition, my alignment – so when I got the call, it was kind of funny because sometimes people call you and they think you out of shape. They think you fat, and they think you greasy, and they think you not ready. I was ready, and I’m so thankful.”
He continued, “I’m f—ing in shape. I’m ready to f—ing go. I sparred 12 rounds the other day. I sparred seven rounds last night around the same time I’m gonna fight, midnight, 1 a.m.. I’m f—ing excited, and I’m thankful, and I’m blessed. I’m blessed for the opportunity, and I promise you I didn’t even hesitate.
“That motherf—-r can say a lot of s—. If you ask the people, when they asked me, within moments, ‘yes’ was the first thing that came out of my mouth. What the f— you mean? … No doubt, no controversy, no bulls—, no shenanigans. He’s going to f—ing sleep, I promise you that.”