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Tyron Woodley signs new UFC contract, wants to fight Jake Shields in April or May

Fresh off a superb KO win over Jay Hieron at UFC 156, welterweight Tyron Woodley has a new UFC contract and wants fellow ex-Strikeforce fighter Jake Shields as his next opponent.

USA TODAY Sports

Tyron Woodley entered the UFC with a bang, sending Jay Hieron to sleep inside of a minute at UFC 156. It would've won Knockout of the Night honors if Antonio Silva didn't provide us with a mind-blowing KO of Alistair Overeem later that evening. The Strikeforce welterweight recently signed a representation agreement with Malki Kawa, and now he's got a fresh new UFC contract to go with that.

Tyron Woodley may have missed out on the UFC 158 sweepstakes after Rory MacDonald fell off the card because of injury, but it's not all bad news as "T-Wood," who signed a new four-fight contract with the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.

Ariel Helwani reported last night on UFC Tonight that Woodley was targeting a fight with Jake Shields either in April or May. Shields, a former SF middleweight champion and UFC welterweight title challenger, recently announced a return to welterweight following his middleweight bout against Ed Herman. His six-month suspension following a failed UFC 150 drug test is already finished.

Woodley was lobbying for a short-notice fight with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, but the lone man to defeat him, Nate Marquardt, was given the fight instead.