Tyron Woodley Eyeing July Return: ‘When I’m Back 100%, Somebody Is Getting Hurt’

UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is on the mend and if all goes to plan he could be back in the UFC Octagon in July.

Woodley suffered a partial labrum tear during his fight with Demian Maia at UFC 214 and has been undergoing rehabilitation ever since. With the surgery now completed and his recovery nearing the end, Woodley gave an update on his condition on UFC Tonight.

“I’m healing up and I feel really good,” Woodley said.

“I had surgery in December and I’ve had two periods of PRP and stem cell injected into my shoulder.

“I have one more series in the second week of April and after that I’ll be into training camp.”

Who Woodley fights on his return is always a hot topic. The 170-pounds UFC champion has no shortage of contenders in his division wanting a shot at the gold, but the champion says everybody will get their shot at his title eventually.

“You know what, everybody is going to get it, it doesn’t matter, it just depends on when,” Woodley said.

“At the end of the day, every welterweight that wants to be at the top is going to have to see me at some point.

“I’m just healing up. I fought four world title fights in 12 months. If anyone deserves to heal and be back 100% [it’s me].

“I will be back when it’s time for Tyron Woodley to be back. My projection is July and my doctors are telling me that I’m healing up very well and I’m back to training again.

“After I do that third series of PRP and stem cell I’m going to be back 100% and somebody is getting hurt.”

Who gets the first shot at Woodley when he returns is still unclear. According to the champion no one has distanced themselves from the pack and put themselves beyond reasonable doubt of being the #1 contender.

Regardless, Woodley says that whoever it is will stand no chance against him and he will be reminding the world exactly why he’s the current champion.

“There’s no real #1 contender right now,” Woodley said.

“I can him [dos Anjos], I can fight Colby, I can fight Usman, I can fight Till. It’s a good time for the sport. I got the red dot on me, but to be honest, I don’t think any of these fighters really want to see me.

“I already beat the toughest guys in the division. I beat these guys for a reason and I got here the old school way. A lot of people have forgotten and have a short term memory of what I’m capable of doing.

“I’ve got some of the most vicious KOs in our sport with the fasted KO in championship history for the welterweight division. These are the stats people forget about.

“They are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. They’re supposed to want to fight me and be champion, but it’s not going to happen.”