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Tyron Woodley Looks to Break Three-Fight Losing Streak vs. Vincente Luque at UFC 260

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley lost his title to Kamaru Usman in 2019, and hasn’t won since. But Woodley says he’s not done with the title picture just yet, and plans to prove it on Saturday night when he takes on Vincente Luque at UFC 260.

Vincente Luque (right) says he won’t underestimate former champion Tyron Woodley (left) at UFC 260. (Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

The Woodley vs. Luque fight has moved into the co-main event spot, after the UFC cancelled its featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega, as Volkanovski tested positive for COVID-19.

Luque: Woodley Still Dangerous

Woodley (19-6-1) dropped a unanimous decision to Gilbert Burns in May, then lost by TKO due to a rib injury in the fifth round against Colby Covington in September. Further losses could endanger Woodley’s UFC future, and potentially his MMA career as a whole. But the former champion says he must get back to winning before he’s ready to hang up his gloves.

“Life is not always a straight path,” Woodley told reporters. “It can be, but we make choices, and I made choices in my life that veered me off that path. Those are things that I have to deal with, and quitting is not an option. I’ve got to go out on top like I plan to do.”

Luque (19-7-1) enters the fight as a -255 favorite over Woodley (+210). He’s won eight of his last nine fights, only dropping a unanimous decision to No. 5 contender Stephen Thompson in 2019 to break up his winning streak.

Those odds and their respective current forms have made Luque look like the man to beat going into UFC 260. But the New Jersey-born Brazilian says he won’t think of underestimating the former champion just because he’s at a low point.

“He’s not in a good spot right now, but he remains highly dangerous,” Luque told MMA Junkie. “He has several great wins in his career, and I’m on a new winning streak. I’m hungry to get a title shot. Both of us have something to prove. He wants to be champ again, and I want to prove that I can also get there and be one of the most dominant fighters in our weight class.”

O’Malley Looks to Bounce Back from First Loss

The styles of these two welterweights should be somewhat complementary. While Luque likes to apply pressure, Woodley has historically let his opponents come at them in the hopes of punishing mistakes. The fight may come down to whether Woodley can recapture his old form and land a winning counter that finishes the fight. More likely, Luque will outpoint the former champion, as he has shown resiliency in the Octagon that has made him difficult to finish.


Woodley vs. Luque Odds (via FanDuel Sportsbook)
Tyron Woodley: +210 Vincente Luque: -255
Method of Victory
Woodley by KO/TKO: +500 Luque by KO/TKO: +230
Woodley by Submission: +2200 Luque by Submission: +1500
Woodley by Decision: +460 Luque by Decision: +135
Draw: +5000

A heavyweight title rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and challenger Francis Ngannou headlines UFC 260. Also on the main card: