The Midwest was torn apart, literally. Missouri was brought to its knees by a force of nature that provided no warnings and had no mercy, with winds howling at rates exceeding 150 mph. St. Louis, a resilient community, found itself at the center of the chaos. And for one man, a fighter born on this soil, the devastation went far beyond headlines and numbers. Tyron Woodley, a former UFC champion and proud Missourian, made it clear: this one hit home, as he made a special request to his fans.
Woodley, who is from Ferguson in the greater St. Louis area, took to his Instagram story to share the devastation caused by the EF3 tornado that slammed through his home turf on May 16. Accompanied by harrowing footage of toppled homes and shattered streets, Woodley’s words were short but deeply personal: “Pray for STL!!”
It wasn’t just an appeal to fans; it was a plea from someone with deep roots in the town that is now struggling to rebuild after the devastation. The National Weather Service certified the storm as an EF3, leaving a destructive track over the region. At least five people were killed in St. Louis alone, with more than three dozen injured.
Northern communities, such as O’Fallon and Penrose, were also impacted, with ancient trees uprooted from the ground, homes leveled, and entire streets rendered unrecognizable. With 100,000 without power and debris clogging emergency access routes, Mayor Cara Spencer announced a state of emergency and imposed a curfew to protect citizens and aid recovery efforts.
As federal and state teams took action, including FEMA and emergency personnel deployed by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, search and rescue operations became a race against the clock. This was not a unique incident either. The tornado was only one of several catastrophic storms that blasted through the Midwest, killing at least 20 people across state lines and causing over $1 billion in damage for the Midwest.
May 17, 2025: Clouds begin to descend as a major storm rolls through Kirkwood, Missouri, on May 16, 2025, before heading east to St. Louis causing major damage. – ZUMAm67_ 20250517_zaf_m67_009 Copyright: xLauriexSkrivanx
In the midst of all this, the voice of a fighter reminded the world of what is truly important. Tyron Woodley, who was recently selected as the GFL’s No. 1 draft pick for the 2025 season, sees the fight in a new light. As he prepares for his professional return, his heart remains in Missouri, the site of a still-unresolved tragedy.
However, it seems like trouble is following him everywhere. While the cage could have been an escape for ‘The Chosen One’ from such painful events, the fact that GFL is struggling with its very debut event is equally horrifying to him and many other fighters in the promotion.
Tyron Woodley still struggling to return as GFL cancels major events
It’s not just Missouri that’s fighting to get back on its feet—Tyron Woodley is too. As the emotional weight of his hometown’s calamity hangs over him, what was supposed to be a professional lifeline feels more like quicksand. The Global Fighting League, which had promised a bright new chapter for MMA veterans like Woodley, is collapsing before they even enter the cage. What was supposed to be a new beginning has turned into yet another test of patience—and trust.
The GFL’s grand debut was scheduled for May 24 and 25, with star fighters like Tyron Woodley, Tony Ferguson, Dillon Danis, and Paige VanZant. On paper, it appeared to be a rebirth for competitors who had previously headlined pay-per-views but were now looking for purpose outside of the UFC’s spotlight. However, beneath the surface, cracks were already spreading.
Fighters began withdrawing. Fabricio Werdum walked away. The entire event eventually crumbled under the weight of broken promises and questionable investments. For someone like Woodley, who is longing for redemption, it’s another terrible twist of fate—another delay in a homecoming that has been years in the making.
GFL founder Darren Owen claims that this is simply a pause, a momentary stumble before the sprint. Perhaps the events will be rescheduled for June; perhaps not. Investors may come through, or the entire project may fail before it even begins. But one thing is certain: Tyron Woodley, who has already battled ghosts from his past, now faces the uncertainty of a future that is moving further away. What do you think? Will he get to make an MMA return in 2025? Let us know in the comments.
The post St. Louis Native Tyron Woodley Sends Prayers as Midwest Tornado Causes 25 Deaths & $1B Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.
