Woodley returns to wrestling mats to face Buckley at RAF 12 in Cleveland

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will step back onto the wrestling mats for the first time in years, facing UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on August 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Real American Freestyle confirmed the bout on Wednesday.

Woodley’s return to competitive wrestling carries genuine weight given his background. A two-time Division 1 All-American at Missouri, he built a decorated amateur career before transitioning to MMA, where he captured the UFC welterweight title and defended it four times. His trajectory shifted sharply after Kamaru Usman stripped him of the belt in 2019 — Woodley lost his next three UFC bouts, departed the promotion, and then went 0-3 in boxing. RAF 12 marks a deliberate pivot back to the discipline that launched him.

Buckley, also a Missouri native, wrestled at high school level but never competed collegiately. He has, however, developed strong wrestling within MMA and is no stranger to the RAF format, having previously competed at RAF 3, where he lost by Technical Fall to former All-American Pat Downey. That result gives him relevant experience on the mat even if his credentials differ sharply from Woodley’s amateur pedigree.

The August 22 card in Cleveland also features the RAF debut of legendary American wrestler Jordan Burroughs, adding further star power to what shapes up as a significant night for the promotion.