Dana White confirms Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns in the works for May 23

The UFC is close to finalizing a fight between two welterweight notables.

According to UFC president Dana White, a bout between former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns is targeted for the promotion’s May 23 event.

White made the announcement on a recent episode of the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast. ESPN was first to report the targeted booking.

“Before I came into this interview, I got a text from Woodley that said, ‘I’m looking for Sean (Shelby). I want this fight on the 23rd.’ That’s what Woodley just told me before this interview, so we’ll see what happens,” White said. “… Burns is the opponent we’re looking at.”

The May 23 UFC event does not currently have a known location. No broadcast or streaming information has been released at this time.

Woodley (19-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) has not competed since he lost his welterweight title to current champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 in March 2019.

Prior to the global coronavirus pandemic, Woodley was scheduled to fight March 21 against Leon Edwards. The bout was supposed to be the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 29. However, after Edwards withdrew because of travel restrictions, the card was eventually canceled during fight week.

Burns (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) was briefly linked as a potential replacement opponent for Woodley on March 21, but the fight was never finalized. Burns has won five consecutive fights, including three at his new weight class of 170. In his most recent outing at UFC on ESPN+ 28 in March, Burns finished Demian Maia with strikes in Round 1.