The fight game is nothing if not unpredictable. Just when fans had wrapped their heads around the nostalgia-heavy matchup of Anderson Silva facing Chris Weidman in a boxing ring—a rematch of two of the most pivotal moments in UFC middleweight history—fate intervened. Weidman is out with an injury, leaving a void on the December 19 card in Miami.

But in the world of combat sports, one door closing usually means a chaotic scramble to open another. Enter Tyron Woodley.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) confirmed Friday that Woodley, the former UFC welterweight champion, will step in on short notice to face Silva in a six-round cruiserweight bout. The fight serves as a high-profile lead-in to the massive heavyweight clash between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, streaming live on Netflix. While we lose the narrative symmetry of Silva-Weidman III, we gain a fascinating stylistic clash between two men who defined their respective eras of mixed martial arts.

The Spider’s Endless Twilight

For Silva, age seems to be merely a suggestion rather than a rule. At 50 years old, the Brazilian icon remains arguably the greatest striker in MMA history, and his transition to boxing has been treated with a reverence reserved for martial arts royalty. He isn’t doing this for rankings or belts anymore; he operates on a different frequency, driven by a pure love for competition.

“I believe that change always happens for a reason,” Silva said regarding the opponent switch. “I am focused on doing a good job. Always respecting my opponent and showing total respect to the boxing world.”

That Zen-like approach masks a dangerous reality. Silva has legitimate boxing chops, evidenced by his decision win over Julio César Chávez Jr. in 2021. Even in his loss to Jake Paul in 2022, Silva showed flashes of the elusive head movement and counter-striking brilliance that made him a nightmare in the Octagon. Facing Woodley presents a different puzzle than Weidman would have. Weidman was a pressure fighter; Woodley is a sniper. Silva will need to navigate the explosive power that defined Woodley’s title reign, all while managing the physical realities of fighting at half a century old.

Woodley’s Shot at Redemption

If Silva is the artist, Tyron Woodley is the coiled spring. The 43-year-old former champion has had a rough go since leaving the UFC, particularly in the boxing ring. His two fights against Jake Paul—a split decision loss followed by a viral knockout defeat—left a bitter taste. But Woodley has never lacked confidence, and the opportunity to stand across from a legend like Silva clearly lit a fire under him.

“Rising to occasions like this are the moments where legends are born,” Woodley stated. And he wasn’t shy about his intentions when speaking to TMZ Sports later, making it clear he isn’t coming to Miami to spar.

“Anderson, love you, brother, but I’m not only about to step on the Spider, I’m a step and squish and twist on the Spider,” Woodley said. “I’m not playing it safe.”

Woodley’s boxing style has often been criticized for low volume, waiting too long for the perfect right hand. Against a defensive wizard like Silva, low volume is a death sentence. Silva will pick apart a stationary target. For Woodley to win, he has to be the bully. He has to make Silva feel all of those 50 years, getting inside the reach and making the fight ugly.

The Jake Paul Connection

There is an undeniable irony that this fight is happening on a Jake Paul undercard. Both Silva and Woodley are part of the “Problem Child’s” résumé, stepping stones that helped build Paul into the combat sports disruptor he is today.

In a way, this fight settles a “best of the rest” debate. Both men have been in the ring with the headliner. Silva dropped a decision to Paul; Woodley was put to sleep. Now, they face each other to see who truly has the better hands when the threat of the younger, heavier YouTuber isn’t looming over them.

MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian didn’t shy away from the magnitude of the names involved, calling it a “gladiatorial sport spectacle.” Getting two UFC Hall of Fame-caliber talents on the same night as Paul vs. Joshua and Alycia Baumgardner’s title defense ensures that casual eyes will be glued to the screen long before the main event walkouts.

Analyzing the Matchup

The fight will take place at 195 pounds. This favors Silva, who spent the bulk of his career at 185 but fought as high as 205 with ease. Woodley was a career welterweight (170 lbs), though he is thick and muscular. The size and reach advantage firmly belongs to Silva.

However, the X-factor is durability. Silva has taken damage over a long career. Woodley, despite the KO loss to Paul, generally has a sturdy chin. If Silva tries to play the Matrix game—hands down, leaning back—and Woodley connects with that trademark overhand right, the lights could go out.

Conversely, if Woodley freezes up, Silva will pepper him with jabs and straights, dancing circles around him for six rounds. It’s a battle of Silva’s fluidity against Woodley’s explosive tension.

Come December 19 at the Kaseya Center, we aren’t just watching a boxing match. We are watching two timelines converge. One man is trying to preserve the mystique of “The Spider,” while the other is desperate to remind the world that he was once “The Chosen One.”