Tyron Woodley offers to train with Eryk Anders after first UFC main event loss

Eryk Anders had a major test on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 125 — one he did not pass — and he has since received a major offer of help.

The previously-undefeated middleweight headed south to enemy territory in Belem, Brazil to challenge veteran Brazilian Lyoto Machida in the event’s main event. He fell to the former UFC champ by split decision in a fight that could have gone his way.

The former college football player did many good things in his first five-round affair in the UFC, analyst and welterweight champion Tyron Woodley said on the FS1 post-fight show Saturday night.

“Anders has some great moments in that fight,” Woodley said. “He landed a great knee to the face — which cut him wide open — right to a punch, right back to a takedown. So he’s already mentally thinking about the transitions.”

Facing Machida, one of the best to ever do it at 185 and 205 pounds, in only his third Octagon appearance was a tall order for Anders. Woodley said now at 10-1 professionally, Anders’ biggest downfall in the bout was his inexperience.

“The youth of Anders caused him to get too close,” Woodley explained. “He claustrophobically smothered and clinched in areas where he should have created distance and landed more strikes to further Lyoto Machida. I think that was the difference maker of him winning or losing this fight.

“One thing that I think he could have done a little bit better — you have to be able to cut him off: take a big step in a 45-degree angle, preferably throwing a right hook at the same time, keeping Lyoto in that box. From that position, now the straight left is gonna be there. He was waiting on a straight left and was following Lyoto around, basically creating a huge circle. Had he taken a sharper cut-off, maybe land with the right hook (or) left hand — even a kick — it would have kept him in that box and he would have had a better chance to strike.”

After his explanation of why Anders lost to Machida, “The Chosen One” offered to train with and help out the former LFA champ.

“Hey, Eryk — holler at your boy,” Woodley said. “I know that’s your nickname. Let’s get some work in. I think you have a bright future.”

On Sunday, Anders responded to Woodley’s offer.

“I’m ready to work now,” Anders said to the championship-level athlete. “What’s good?”