Report: Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman set for UFC 235

UFC 235 may have just gained a second title fight. The card, set for March 2nd in Las Vegas, recently gained a light heavyweight title scrap between Jon Jones and Anthony Smith (pending NSAC approval). Now, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports the event will also feature a welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Karamu Usman.

”Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman is a done deal for UFC 235 on 3/2, sources say,” Helwani wrote on Twitter. “If all goes according to plan the fight will serve as co-main for Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith. However, unlike Woodley-Usman, Jones-Smith isn’t signed yet. Jones has to get his license on 1/29 first.”

Helwani also explained why Woodley is fighting Kamaru Usman rather than Colby Covington, who was originally expected to fight for the 170 pound strap first.

”In the end, while Colby Covington was ready to go for 235, UFC chose to go with Usman because his stock rose mightily in their eyes after the RDA win + his subsequent willingness to fight anyone on short notice in January despite being injured,” Ariel tweeted. “Covington held out and it cost him.”

Earlier in the week, Kamaru and Woodley went back and forth on social media about whether or not they’d actually be fighting. Looks like “Marty from Nebraska” was telling the truth: he is indeed next for “T-Wood.”

This turns UFC 235 into quite the card, should all these fights stay together. Take a peek at how the UFC’s big March 2nd card is looking:

Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith (for light heavyweight championship)
Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman (for welterweight championship)
Robbie Lawler vs. Ben Askren
Holly Holm vs. Aspen Ladd
Jeremy Stephens vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov
Diego Sanchez vs. Mickey Gall
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Misha Cirkunov
Tecia Torres vs. Weili Zhang