Tyron Woodley Beats Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 for First Win in Nearly Eight Years

Tyron Woodley snapped a winless drought stretching nearly eight years with a dramatic comeback victory over Joaquin Buckley at RAF 12 on August 23, 2026, delivering one of the more unexpected results the welterweight division has seen in recent memory.

Woodley, nicknamed "The Chosen One," entered the bout carrying a record of 19-7-1 and the weight of a prolonged skid that had shadowed the latter years of a once-dominant career. The 44-year-old Ferguson, Missouri native trains out of American Top Team Evolution and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach. A former UFC welterweight champion, Woodley built his reputation on precise, punishing striking — he connects on 48 percent of his significant strikes — as well as a credible wrestling game that averaged just over one takedown per 15 minutes during his prime years.

Buckley, known as "New Mansa," came in ranked tenth in the welterweight division with a record of 21-8-0. The 32-year-old southpaw from the United States represents Murcielago MMA and is listed at five-foot-ten with a reach of 76 inches — 193 centimeters. He had built a reputation as one of the division's more dangerous strikers, averaging 3.88 significant strikes landed per minute, though his accuracy sits at 36 percent. He also contributes on the mat, averaging 1.54 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Woodley's victory ends a winless run of nearly eight years, dramatically altering the narrative around his career twilight.
• Buckley, sitting tenth in the welterweight rankings, absorbs a loss that could affect his divisional standing and future matchmaking.
• The stylistic contrast — Woodley's high-accuracy counterpunching against Buckley's high-volume southpaw offense — made the comeback result all the more striking.
• RAF 12 now carries added significance as the backdrop for one of 2026's more surprising welterweight storylines.