"I Can Help You Get There": Tyron Woodley Reaches Out to Joaquin Buckley Post-RAF 12
Tyron Woodley has offered to help train Joaquin Buckley following his win over the UFC fighter at this weekend's RAF 12 event. Woodley wants to help him improve his grappling.
Tyron Woodley isn't just back in the win column; he's looking to pay it forward to the next generation of St. Louis talent. Following his thrilling comeback victory over Joaquin Buckley at Real American Freestyle 12, the former UFC welterweight kingpin publicly extended an olive branch, offering to mentor "New Mansa" in his pursuit of UFC gold.
"The Chosen One" Reaches Out to Help a Rival
Their co-main event collision in Cleveland started off as a nightmare for Woodley. Buckley stormed out to an 8-1 lead, using explosive attacks to put the 44-year-old veteran on the ropes. However, Woodley dug deep into his two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestling roots, chipping away at the deficit point by point to score an epic 11-8 comeback win, his first victory in any combat sport since September 2018.
Despite the intense competitive heat on the mat, any lingering animosity evaporated immediately after the final whistle. Speaking post-match, Woodley expressed immense pride in seeing another St. Louis native thrive at the highest level, making it clear that his door is wide open for Buckley to come train together.
"I can help you get there, brother," Woodley said, addressing Buckley directly. "Duke Roufus, bless his soul, was like, 'I'm not your striking coach, I'm your winning coach.' I know I can do that for Joaquin."
The offer carries serious weight. During his prime, Woodley established himself as one of the most dominant welterweights in UFC history. After knocking out Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 to claim the 170-pound crown, "The Chosen One" put together four consecutive title defenses against Stephen Thompson, Demian Maia, and Darren Till. Over his legendary career, Woodley compiled a 19-7-1 overall record, relying heavily on the high-level coaching philosophy taught by the late Duke Roufus at Roufusport.
Meanwhile, Buckley remains a top contender in the UFC welterweight division. Holding a 21-8 professional record with explosive knockout power, "New Mansa" continues to build momentum toward a potential title shot of his own.
For Woodley, passing down the wisdom of championship preparation is the ultimate way to honor his late coach's legacy. While Buckley missed out on the victory in Cleveland, accepting Woodley's offer could provide the exact blueprint needed to bring another UFC championship belt back home to St. Louis.
