# Sean Woodson

Sean Lawrence Woodson (born June 7, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

## Background

Growing up in North County, Sean Woodson’s dad was the driving inspiration behind his fighting career as his father would watch fights with his son, developing a passion for boxing. His mother had other ideas and took Sean to a trip to the pediatrician at the age of eight, asking the doctor to explain the dangers of boxing. Instead the doctor told her that with headgear, boxing is actually safer than a lot of other sports like football or hockey. Sean's mother then took him to the gym where he fell in love with the sport. As an amateur boxer, he developed a record of 46-3. Following a serious car accident at age sixteen, he ended up living at Matt Hughes’ Hit Squad Gym in Granite City. There, he was introduced to mixed martial arts.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Making his debut at RFA 44, Woodson faced Kevin Brown Jr. and went on to submit him in the first round. Competing under the banner of Shamrock FC, he would win his next four bouts,defeating Coltin Cole at Shamrock FC 283 via TKO in round one, Rashard Lovelace via unanimous decision at Shamrock FC 290, Seth Basler at Shamrock FC 295 via unanimous decision, and finally Lovelace for the second time via unanimous decision at Shamrock FC 311.
With 5 days notice and having to cut 24 pounds in that time span, Woodson appeared on Dana White's Contender Series 21, where he faced Terrance McKinney and went on to defeat him via flying knee KO in the second round, earning a contract with the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Woodson made his promotional debut against Kyle Bochniak on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Woodson was expected to face Kyle Nelson on June 27, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker. Nelson had to pull out off the bout due to visa issues, and therefore was replaced by Julian Erosa He lost the fight via D'arce choke in the third round.
Woodson was scheduled to face Jonathan Pearce on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark. However, Woodson withdrew a week before the event due to unknown reasons and was replaced by Kai Kamaka III.
Woodson faced Youssef Zalal on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai. He won the bout via split decision.
Woodson faced Collin Anglin on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197. He won the bout via TKO in round one.
Woodson faced Luis Saldaña on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278. He fought to a split draw decision.
Woodson was scheduled to face Steve Garcia on August 5, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225. However, the bout was scrapped after Garcia got injured and Woodson was booked against Jesse Butler. In turn, Butler was removed by the Nevada Athletic Commission during fight week due to a recent knockout loss to Jim Miller in two months earlier. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Mairon Santos. However, due to visa issues, Santos was removed from the bout and replaced with promotional newcomer Dennis Buzukja. Woodson won the bout via unanimous decision.
Woodson faced Charles Jourdain on January 20, 2024, at UFC 297. He won the competitive fight by split decision.
Woodson faced Alex Caceres on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. He won the fight by unanimous decision. 11 out of 14 media outlets scored the fight for Caceres.
Woodson faced Fernando Padilla on December 14, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. He won the fight by technical knockout at the end of the first round.
Woodson is scheduled to face Dan Ige on April 12, 2025 at UFC 314.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Tied (Movsar Evloev & Lerone Murphy) for fourth longest undefeated streak in UFC Featherweight division history (8)

### Amateur Boxing

* Won boxing’s coveted Golden Gloves competition at light heavyweight

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 15 matches | 13 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 13–1–1 | Fernando Padilla | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley | December 14, 2024 | 1 | 4:58 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 12–1–1 | Alex Caceres | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 11–1–1 | Charles Jourdain | Decision (split) | UFC 297 | January 20, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 10–1–1 | Dennis Buzukja | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font | August 5, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Catchweight (146.5 lb) bout; Buzukja missed weight. |
| Draw | 9–1–1 | Luis Saldaña | Draw (split) | UFC 278 | August 20, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Saldaña was deducted one point in round 1 due to an illegal knee. |
| Win | 9–1 | Collin Anglin | TKO (punches to the body) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez | November 13, 2021 | 1 | 4:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Youssef Zalal | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai | June 5, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Julian Erosa | Submission (D'Arce choke) | UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker | June 27, 2020 | 3 | 2:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Win | 7–0 | Kyle Bochniak | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman | October 18, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Terrance McKinney | KO (flying knee) | Dana White's Contender Series 21 | July 23, 2019 | 2 | 1:49 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Rashard Lovelace | Decision (unanimous) | Shamrock FC 311 | November 2, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Seth Basler | Decision (unanimous) | Shamrock FC 295 | September 22, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Rashard Lovelace | Decision (unanimous) | Shamrock FC 290 | June 2, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Coltin Cole | TKO (punches) | Shamrock FC 283 | January 28, 2017 | 1 | 2:38 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Kevin Brown Jr. | Submission (guillotine choke) | RFA 44 | September 30, 2016 | 1 | 1:35 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |

## Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record :
| 1 Win ,0 losses ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2015-02-21 | Win | Bo Kunz | Lumiere Casino | Saint Louis, Missouri, USA | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |