Tyron Woodley mitigated the risks, weighed the rewards and beat Stephen Thompson at his own game; and while not aesthetically pleasing, his approach brought about the desired result.
The two-time NCAA All-American wrestler picked his spots and rode a near-finish in the fifth round to a majority decision over Thompson, as he retained the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight crown in the UFC 209 main event on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Scores were 48-47, 48-47 and 47-47, giving Woodley the last laugh on “Wonderboy” after they fought to a draw in November.