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FIGHT CAMP REPORT: Tyron Woodley - ATT Evolution

By Brett Auten Knuckle Junkies

Tyron Woodley is ready to go and all of St. Louis can watch what he does best.

This Saturday, as part of a free weekend of Showtime, Woodley, a St. Louis native, returns to the cage. Woodley will take on hot up-and-comer Jordan Mein.

Woodley (9-0 MMA, 7-0 SF) faces Mein (23-7 MMA, 1-0 SF) on Saturday at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" in Las Vegas.

Mein, who is just 22, has tallied some significant wins in his career that started at the age of 16. In 2011, he picked up victories over Josh Burkman and Marius Zaromskis in June before stopping Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in September.

A victory over Mein secures Woodley a shot at the vacant Strikeforce welterweight strap. Before champion Nick Diaz bolted to the UFC, Woodley was all but guaranteed a shot at Diaz.

The long-limbed Mein will have his hands full with Woodley, a tremendous wrestler with Herculean strength.

Woodley last stepped into the cage in the summer of 2011 against Paul Daley. He was criticized some for being cautious against the hard-hitting Daley. But his explosive takedowns and strength was too much for the British brawler to bare.

Much has been made about Woodley’s full-plate as of late.

He opened ATT Evolution in St. Louis in December and spent much of the month preparing and promoting the gym’s opening, which included a guest appearance from legend Randy Couture.

Many feel that Woodley is the unofficial Strikeforce welterweight champ, but doesn’t have the belt to prove it.

A pounding of Mein on Saturday would cement his standing as the organization’s top 170-pounder.