Tyron Woodley Reveals RAF 12 Opponent Joaquin Buckley Has Years-Old Grudge With UFC Legend
Sportsnaut · Jasonburgosmma; Jason Burgos · 2026-08-19T20:17:15+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Ahead of his debut match against Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on Saturday night, Tyron Woodley revealed that his opponent this weekend may have a grudge to settle with the UFC legend.
After exclusively being a combat athlete for the last 20 years, the former UFC champion returns to his wrestling roots in a matchup with the ranked welterweight this weekend. On paper, this looks like a very bad matchup for Buckley. While he has some high school wrestling experience, he will be facing a two-time All-American wrestler from Missouri.
However, Woodley told Sportsnaut recently that RAF fans are making a big mistake by viewing the 32-year-old as an easy matchup at the event in Cleveland.
Joaquin Buckley has years old grudge with Tyron Woodley?
Fight fans already knew about Buckley’s impressive athleticism. And if he had any chance to hold his own on the mat, it would be because of those traits. However, the “chip on his shoulder” that Woodley referenced will be new information for those planning to watch the event.
According to Woodley, his upcoming opponent has been MIA on social media and totally locked in to prove something to the former UFC star because Woodley did not give him the chance nearly a decade ago.
Woodley claims that when Buckley faced Kamaru Usman last year — someone he also battled in 2019 — he offered to help him train for the bout. So he could give a fellow St. Louis native useful intel to score a career-defining victory over the former UFC champion. But Buckley passed on the opportunity.
“That tells me he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. And this match is more than just a casual match for him,” Woodley told Sportsnaut.
Woodley’s return to amateur wrestling will take place at RAF 12 on Saturday night inside Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.