Tyron Woodley Out Until 2019 Due to Surgery, Colby Covington Responds
UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will likely be sidelined until 2019 with surgery planned in the next couple of weeks.
Sources close to Woodley confirmed that he will need to go under the knife to repair damage done to his hand during his second round submission victory over Darren Till at UFC 228 following an initial report from ESPN.
The surgery is expected to keep Woodley out of action for 8 to 12 weeks, which means there’s no chance he’d be able to fight again in 2019.
While Woodley is expected to recover from the injury without any further issues, the reigning welterweight champion will be sidelined for several months after just returning from a shoulder surgery that kept him out for the majority of 2018.
None of that news sat well with Woodley’s next opponent Colby Covington, who has been champing at the bit to set up a fight with the champion ever since he got past Till in early September.
Covington won the UFC interim welterweight title in June but then was unable to face Woodley in a quick turn around for September after having surgery scheduled to help him with a recurring sinus problem.
“That brittle bitch fights 1.5 rounds in 14 months and needs another “surgery?” Covington stated on Twitter. “Quit playing games Tyrone. You know whenever those nerds get done putting you back together, I’m just gonna tear you apart and end you for good.
“Accept your fate or be stripped of your No. 1 contender spot.”
That brittle bitch fights 1.5 rds in 14 months and needs another "surgery?" Quit playing games Tyrone. You know whenever those nerds get done putting you back together, Im just gonna tear you apart and end you for good. Accept your fate or be stripped of your #1 contender spot. https://t.co/P1xMpHNvBe
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) September 22, 2018
Covington had previously hoped for his showdown with Woodley to headline UFC 230 on Nov. 3 in New York but obviously that can’t happen now.
Instead, Covington will likely remain on the sidelines as well after UFC president Dana White confirmed he was next line to fight for Woodley’s title before the surgery was announced.
