Tyron Woodley says wrestling a weapon vs. Condit at UFC 171, not a game plan

(This story first appeared in Friday’s USA TODAY.)

Tyron Woodley doesn’t want to be one of those many wrestlers turned mixed martial artists who gets a few knockout wins and is convinced he’s a striker. But he also doesn’t want people to think he’s a one-trick pony.

Entering Saturday’s UFC 171 bout with Carlos Condit, Woodley’s best route to victory, it would seem, is to take his opponent to the ground.

Considering Woodley’s accomplishments as a collegiate wrestler (two-time NCAA Division I All-American and 2003 Big 12 championship), that should be the case in most fights. And against Condit (29-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC), Woodley (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is facing a notoriously poor defensive wrestler.

In fact, Condit’s takedown defense rate is the fourth worst among active UFC fighters. That means Woodley should look for frequent trips to the mat when they meet in UFC 171's co-headliner at Dallas’ American Airlines Center (10 p.m. ET, pay-per-view).

While he recognizes the major hole in Condit’s game, Woodley is seasoned enough to know he can’t rely purely on wrestling.

“I think his takedown defense is a flaw,” Woodley tells USA TODAY Sports. “But I can’t think, ‘OK, I’m a wrestler, so let’s just take him down every round and I’ll win.’ I think that’s a stupid way of going into the fight thinking.”

Although wrestling is and always will be Woodley’s biggest offensive threat, his striking has become increasingly dangerous in recent fights. Recent knockout wins over Josh Koscheck and Jay Hieron have bolstered Woodley’s confidence in the standup department‚ so much so that the former Strikeforce fighter has yet to attempt a single takedown in three UFC fights.

Woodley says he hasn’t forgotten about his wrestling, but he also doesn’t see why he should risk taking a fight to the ground and possibly losing by submission if he can end it standing up.

“I put myself in a position where I made wrestling an option for me,” Woodley says. “I don’t have to wrestle. I don’t have to take another shot for the rest of my life if I don’t want to. I have good enough hands, good enough boxing, good enough timing to strike with anybody in our division.”

Woodley’s confidence is commendable. However, against Condit, he’ll be pitted against one of the most dangerous strikers in the welterweight division – one who’s earned nearly half of his career victories by knockout.

So how does the 31-year-old balance his offensive strategy so it doesn’t become too predictable one way or the other? He says the mistakes of fighters before him have shown him what not to do.

“You can’t get too excited about your own medicine,” Woodley says. “I remember watching Rashad Evans, who sometimes I look up to as a mentor and a big brother, and he fought (Lyoto) Machida and forgot his wrestling. He left it at home because he had some big knockouts and big wins.

“The true game of mixed martial arts is putting your wrestling in there, putting your striking in there, but also being deceiving ‚Äì hiding behind your punches if you’re wrestling, and hide behind your wrestling if you’re punching. It’s just a matter of blending it all together.”

Saturday’s bout is by far the most meaningful of Woodley’s MMA career. He’s yet to face such an experienced, diverse fighter. But Woodley plans to show his progression and expects to delivere his most complete showing to date.

“For me it’s just being wiser, finding my opportunities and really fighting a smart fight,” Woodley says. “I’m going to out there and put on an amazing show.”

For the latest on UFC 171, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Below, hear Woodley talk about his fight against Carlos Condit in UFC 171's co-main event.

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